Diseases

Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia

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Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (nait) is a blood-related disease that affects expectant mothers and their babies. Most people are familiar with the red blood cells that make up the majority of the blood in our bodies, but may not be aware of a second type of cell in our blood stream called platelets.

SYMPTOMS

The thrombocytopenia increases as gestation progresses. During the first pregnancy, nait is often not detected until birth when the newborn presents with classic symptoms of thrombocytopenia including petechiae, bruising orintracranial hemorrhage.

CAUSES

The antibodies can cause the unborn baby's platelets to disappear from his or her blood stream, resulting in a low platelet count. This is calledthrombocytopenia. The disease process that happens in the fetus or baby is known as neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia.