Autoimmune thrombocytopenia in pregnancy

The laboratory diagnosis of autoimmune thrombocytopenia has only recently become more satisfactory. In this study a fluorescein-labelled antiglobulin technique was used to investigate the immunochemical properties of the platelet antibody detected in a pregnant woman with severe thrombocytopenia. The antibody was autoimmune and appeared to have specificity for platelet antigens. It had both IgG and IgM components and did not fix complement. Steroids had a beneficial effect indicated by a return to normal of the platelet count, a falling antibody titre and the disappearance of detectable antibody on the patient's own platelets. Studies on the baby showed that the antibody had not crossed the placenta in detectable amounts.