Post-transfusion purpura associated with alloimmunization against the platelet-specific antigen, Baka

Post-transfusion purpura (PTP) with severe thrombocytopenia occurred eight days after transfusion in a 28-year-old woman and responded to treatment with prednisone and plasma exchange. In contrast to nearly all previously studied cases of PTP, the patient's platelets were PlA1-positive and anti-PlA1 antibody could not be detected in serum obtained during the thrombocytopenic episode. Her serum was found to contain an antibody specific for a recently described platelet-specific alloantigen, Baka, in addition to multiple HLA-specific antibodies. The patient's platelets, typed following recovery, were Baka-negative. These findings indicate that post-transfusion purpura can occur in association with alloimmunization to platelet-specific antigens other than PlA1. In performing the serologic studies, a close relationship and possible identity between Baka and another recently reported platelet antigen, Leka, was observed. A method for analyzing mixtures of cytotoxic platelet-reactive antibodies without separating the individual antibodies is described.