What is Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia?
Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia (also referred to as Fetal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia and Fetal Maternal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia, with the acronymns of NAIT, NAT, NATP, FAIT and FMAIT) is a disease that results in a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) in an unborn or newborn baby that is caused by maternal IgG antibodies passing through the placenta and attacking the unborn baby’s platelets. The maternal antibodies are produced due to the mother’s having a homozygous platelet type(s) that differs from that of the baby. It is similar to Hemolytic Disease (where the baby’s red blood cells come under attack due to a different RH type than the mother), but unlink Hemolytic Disease, NAIT often affects the first pregnancy and currently in the US, screening is not performed for NAIT, nor is there an attempt to prevent intitial maternal sensitization like there is with the RH factor. Testing is available where parents can have their platelets genotyped to identify incompatibilities
