Platelet and Neutrophil Antigens

Alloantibodies against polymorphisms of membrane proteins on platelets and granulocytes may be stimulated by pregnancy or blood transfusion and can cause neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia and neonatal alloimmune neutropenia. They can also induce adverse events such as transfusion-related acute lung injury and febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions. The surface molecules recognized by these alloantibodies are also the target of auto- and drug-induced antibodies, which can result in the destruction of autologous cells. In this chapter, we discuss the major clinical conditions involving platelet and granulocyte antibodies, including the detection of the implicated antibodies, the characterization of the membrane protein polymorphisms involved and the treatment of the conditions. This edition first published 2013 © 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.