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Febrile nonhaemolytic transfusion reaction caused by antibodies against human platelet antigen 5a.

Tazzari PL, Bontadini A, Zamagni C, Ricci F, Fruet F, Iannelli S, Conte R

Immunohematology and Transfusion Medicine Service, Azienda Ospedaliera S.Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.

Anti-human platelet antigens (HPA) alloantibodies are seldom involved in febrile nonhaemolytic reactions (FNHTRs). We describe a case in which anti-HPA-5a alloantibodies are related to an FNHTR. We studied the specificity of the alloantibodies by flow cytometry, ELISA and MACE. Typing of donors and the patient was performed by sequence-specific polymerase chain reaction. The alloantibodies were found reactive with HPA-5a antigens. The patient was HPA-5b/b, whereas the donor of the platelet apheresis involved in the FNHTR was HPA-5a/a. Despite the low frequency of anti-HPA-5a antibodies, they might be responsible for FNHTR.

Published 5 October 2005 in Transfus Med, 15(5): 443-4.
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