Long-term neurodevelopmental outcome in children after antenatal intravenous immune globulin treatment in fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia.

BACKGROUND: Children with fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia face increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage potentially leading to developmental impairment. To prevent intracranial hemorrhage, pregnant women with alloantibodies against fetal platelets are often treated with intravenous immunoglobulin. Intravenous immunoglobulin seems effective in vastly reducing the risk of fetal or neonatal bleeding complications. However, information on long-term neurodevelopment of these children is lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate long-term neurodevelopmental outcome in children with fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia who were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin antenatally. STUDY DESIGN: An observational cohort study was performed, including children of mothers treated with intravenous immunoglobulin during pregnancy because a previous child was diagnosed with fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. Children were invited for a follow-up assessment including standardized cognitive and neurologic tests. The parents were asked to complete a behavioral questionnaire and school performance reports. The primary outcome was severe neurodevelopmental impairment, defined as severe cognitive impairment (intelligence quotient <70), cerebral palsy with Gross Motor Function Classification System Level ≥3, bilateral blindness, and/or bilateral deafness (requiring amplification). The secondary outcome was mild to moderate neurodevelopmental impairment, defined as either mild to moderate cognitive impairment (intelligence quotient <85), cerebral palsy with Gross Motor Function Classification System Level ≤2, minor neurologic dysfunction, vision loss, and/or hearing loss. RESULTS: Between 2003 and 2017, 51 children were live-born after antenatal intravenous immunoglobulin treatment. One family moved abroad and was therefore not eligible for inclusion. In total, 82% (41/50) of the eligible cases were included for neurodevelopmental assessment at a median age of 9 years and 8 months. Severe neurodevelopmental impairment was not detected. The incidence of mild to moderate neurodevelopmental impairment was 14% (6/41; 95% confidence interval, 6%-29%). The children's mean cognitive score, behavioral scores, and academic achievement were not different from those observed in the Dutch norm groups. Neuroimaging was performed in 90% (37/41) of cases. Severe intracranial hemorrhage was diagnosed in 2 cases (5%), one antenatally before the start of intravenous immunoglobulin and the other case 1 day after birth. Both cases had a normal neurodevelopmental outcome. CONCLUSION: The risk of neurodevelopmental impairment in children whose mothers were treated for fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia with antenatal intravenous immunoglobulin is comparable to that reported in the general population.

Does Early Neonatal Thrombocytopenia Affect Ductal Therapeutic Response to Acetaminophen in Preterm Neonates?

OBJECTIVE: Perinatal thrombocytopenia has been shown to affect responsiveness to therapeutic ductal closure with cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors. This has not been studied in responsiveness to acetaminophen, which has less effect on platelet function. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether thrombocytopenia affects ductal responsiveness to acetaminophen. STUDY DESIGN: This study was a retrospective review of preterm neonates <1,500 g. Echocardiograms were performed within the first week of life; if ductal status was found to be hemodynamically significant, infants were treated with acetaminophen. RESULTS: We studied 254 infants. Fifty-seven of these (22%) had a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) and were treated with acetaminophen. Forty (70%) of those treated responded with ductal closure after one to two courses of acetaminophen. Seventeen infants were considered nonresponsive, requiring the addition of ibuprofen and/or surgical ligation. Sixty seven of the 254 infants (26%) developed moderate thrombocytopenia (platelets <100,000) within the first 10 days of life, more within the hsPDA group (54 vs. 18% p < 0.001); however, no differences in platelet-related parameters were observed between those who did and did not respond to acetaminophen treatment when comparing infants with hsPDA. Twenty-six of the 67 thrombocytopenic infants were already thrombocytopenic prior to acetaminophen treatment, and 19 of these 26 (73%) with pretreatment thrombocytopenia responded to acetaminophen treatment-with the overall response rate of 70%. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to document that, in contrast to the COX inhibitors, there is no association between early neonatal thrombocytopenia and ductal therapeutic responsiveness to acetaminophen. KEY POINTS: · Perinatal thrombocytopenia affects ductal closure with COX inhibitors.. · In contrast to the COX inhibitors, acetaminophen responsiveness is not affected by thrombocytopenia.. · Acetaminophen can be recommended to close hsPDA in the presence of thrombocytopenia..

Romiplostim for the management of pediatric immune thrombocytopenia: drug development and current practice.

Since successful cloning of thrombopoietin (TPO) in 1994, significant advances have been made in the development of recombinant TPO receptor agonists. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved 2 agents for use in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP): eltrombopag and romiplostim. Romiplostim is a once-weekly subcutaneous injection that has been shown to increase the platelet count, lessen bleeding, and reduce concurrent medication use in adults with ITP. In December 2018, the US FDA approved romiplostim for use in pediatric patients ≥1 year of age with ITP of >6 months' duration and insufficient response to corticosteroids, immunoglobulins, or splenectomy, based on similarly favorable clinical trial data. In addition, romiplostim is well tolerated, making it an attractive option for the treatment of children. Expansion of off-label romiplostim use is being reported in children for ITP <6 months, neonatal thrombocytopenia, hereditary thrombocytopenias, and chemotherapy- and bone marrow transplant-associated thrombocytopenia. We review here the development of romiplostim with a focus on pediatric use.

Neonatal thrombocytopenia: Thrombin generation in presence of reduced platelet counts and effects of rFVIIa in cord blood.

Healthy neonates exhibit a well-functioning haemostatic system despite peculiarities regarding composition of clotting factors and inhibitors as well as impaired platelet aggregation. Thrombocytopenia and severe bleeding events are feared in sick infants. Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) is a haemostatic agent used as a last resort in neonates with refractory bleedings. Aim of this study was to investigate in-vitro (i) changes in thrombin generation with different platelet counts, (ii) effects of rFVIIa under conditions of thrombocytopenia and (iii) potentially differing dose-response of rFVIIa in cord blood as a surrogate for neonatal blood compared to adult blood. Thrombin generation parameters were observed in cord blood plasma and adult plasma with various platelet counts, with or without addition of rFVIIa, respectively. Low platelet counts did not influence thrombin generation in cord blood in contrast to adult blood. RFVIIa primarily affected lag time throughout all platelet concentrations. Interestingly, peak height was reduced exclusively in cord blood plasma after addition of rFVIIa. No significant differences regarding dose-response were observed between cord blood and adult blood. In contrast to adult blood, thrombocytopenia in cord blood does not significantly influence thrombin generation. Even at very low platelet counts there is enough negatively charged surface to support rFVIIa action in plasma from cord blood and adult blood in-vitro.

Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia: recommendations for evidence-based practice, an international approach.

Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) may result in severe bleeding, particularly fetal and neonatal intracranial haemorrhage (ICH). As a result, FNAIT requires prompt identification and treatment; subsequent pregnancies need close surveillance and management. An international panel convened to develop evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and management of FNAIT. A rigorous approach was used to search, review and develop recommendations from published data for: antenatal management, postnatal management, diagnostic testing and universal screening. To confirm FNAIT, fetal human platelet antigen (HPA) typing, using non-invasive methods if quality-assured, should be performed during pregnancy when the father is unknown, unavailable for testing or heterozygous for the implicated antigen. Women with a previous child with an ICH related to FNAIT should be offered intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions during subsequent affected pregnancies as early as 12 weeks gestation. Ideally, HPA-selected platelets should be available at delivery for potentially affected infants and used to increase the neonatal platelet count as needed. If HPA-selected platelets are not immediately available, unselected platelets should be transfused. FNAIT studies that optimize antenatal and postnatal management, develop risk stratification algorithms to guide management and standardize laboratory testing to identify high risk pregnancies are needed.

Antenatal management in fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia: a systematic review.

Several strategies can be used to manage fetal or neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) in subsequent pregnancies. Serial fetal blood sampling (FBS) and intrauterine platelet transfusions (IUPT), as well as weekly maternal IV immunoglobulin infusion (IVIG), with or without additional corticosteroid therapy, are common options, but optimal management has not been determined. The aim of this systematic review was to assess antenatal treatment strategies for FNAIT. Four randomized controlled trials and 22 nonrandomized studies were included. Pooling of results was not possible due to considerable heterogeneity. Most studies found comparable outcomes regarding the occurrence of intracranial hemorrhage, regardless of the antenatal management strategy applied; FBS, IUPT, or IVIG with or without corticosteroids. There is no consistent evidence for the value of adding steroids to IVIG. FBS or IUPT resulted in a relatively high complication rate (consisting mainly of preterm emergency cesarean section) of 11% per treated pregnancy in all studies combined. Overall, noninvasive management in pregnant mothers who have had a previous neonate with FNAIT is effective without the relatively high rate of adverse outcomes seen with invasive strategies. This systematic review suggests that first-line antenatal management in FNAIT is weekly IVIG administration, with or without the addition of corticosteroids.

Contemporary management of neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia: good outcomes in the intravenous immunoglobulin era: results from the Australian neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia registry.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the natural history, antenatal and postnatal therapy, and clinical outcomes of Australian patients with fetomaternal/neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) recorded in the Australian NAIT registry. METHODS: Analysis of registry data of Australian mothers treated antenatally for NAIT and any fetus/newborn with thrombocytopenia (TCP) and maternal human platelet antigen (HPA) antibodies. RESULTS: Ninety four potential cases (91 pregnancies; three twin pregnancies) were registered between December 2004 and September 2015 with 76 confirmed or treated as NAIT. NAIT was frequently unanticipated (44 cases, 58%), whilst 32 cases (42%) were anticipated due to personal or family history. In 70/76 cases, the diagnosis of NAIT was made based on HPA antibody results; anti-HPA-1a was most commonly detected (58/70, 82%), followed by anti-HPA-5b (5/70, 7%). Intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) was detected in seven cases (9%). Maternal antenatal therapy resulted in improved clinical outcomes. For antenatally treated cases, whilst 10/29 (34%) neonates had severe TCP, only one ICH was detected. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides data on contemporary "real world" management of Australian mothers and babies with NAIT. Antenatal IVIG therapy was associated with better neonatal outcomes. Maternal side-effects and treatment costs were substantial.

Blood group A mothers are more likely to develop anemia during antenatal intravenous immunoglobulin treatment of fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia.

BACKGROUND: Incompatibility between parental platelet (PLT) antigens may lead to sensitization of mother and development of fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) resulting in fetal thrombocytopenia. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) with or without prednisone is the most effective, evidence-based antenatal treatment for subsequent FNAIT-affected pregnancies. IVIG infusion causes hemolysis in other settings, the degree depending upon patient blood groups (BGs). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00194987, 102 pregnant women received randomized antenatal treatment: Arm A received 2 g/kg/week IVIG; Arm B received 1 g/kg/week IVIG + 0.5 mg/kg/day prednisone. This post hoc analysis explored BG and anemia in 69 FNAIT mothers treated with Arm A or Arm B without salvage treatment to explore the effects of IVIG and steroid treatment on development of anemia in these women. Mothers whose treatment changed, for example, those with insufficient or unknown fetal PLT response who received salvage therapy, were excluded. RESULTS: For Arm A, 17 of 21 (hemoglobin [Hb] < 10 g/dL) mothers with anemia but only three of 15 mothers without anemia had BG-A and/or BG-B (p = 0.0005). BG was unrelated to anemia in Arm B; only nine of 33 Arm B mothers became anemic during treatment. The mean decrease in Hb level in women with BG-non-O was 1.9 g/dL and in women with BG-O was 1.1 g/dL (p = 0.004). Anemia was not caused by iron deficiency; the lowest mean corpuscular volume was 79. CONCLUSION: FNAIT women with BG-non-O more frequently develop anemia secondary to high-dose IVIG infusion (2 g/kg/week), quite possibly from isohemagglutinin-mediated hemolysis; maternal Hb requires monitoring. IVIG at 1 g/kg/week did not cause anemia in women with BG-non-O; concomitant prednisone likely alleviated the IVIG effect. Maternal BG could influence selection of antenatal treatment for FNAIT.

Corticosteroids compared with intravenous immunoglobulin for the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia in pregnancy.

Treatment options for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in pregnancy are limited, and evidence to guide management decisions is lacking. This retrospective study of singleton pregnancies from 2 tertiary centers compared the effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and corticosteroids in treatment of ITP. Data from 195 women who had 235 pregnancies were reviewed. Treatment was not required in 137 pregnancies (58%). Of the remaining 98 pregnancies in 91 women, 47 (48%) were treated with IVIg and 51 were treated with corticosteroids as the initial intervention. Mean maternal platelet count at birth did not differ between groups (IVIg 69 × 10(9)/L vs corticosteroids 77 × 10(9)/L; P = .71) nor did the proportion of mothers who achieved a platelet count response (IVIg 38% vs corticosteroids 39%; P = .85). There were no fatal or severe maternal, fetal, or neonatal hemorrhages. Of 203 neonates in whom platelet counts were available, 56 (28%) had a birth platelet count <150 × 10(9)/L and 18 (9%) had platelet counts <50 × 10(9)/L. Nadir platelet counts for most affected neonates occurred at birth, although for some neonates, nadir platelet counts occurred up to 6 days postnatally. Intracranial hemorrhage was noted in 2 neonates (nadir platelet counts were 135 and 18 × 10(9)/L). There were no neonatal deaths. The majority of pregnant women with a history of ITP did not require treatment, and neonatal outcomes were comparable for mothers who received IVIg or corticosteroids for treatment of maternal ITP.

Lower-dose intravenous immunoglobulins for the treatment of fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs) are the cornerstone in the treatment of pregnancies at risk for fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT). The most commonly used dose is 1.0 g/kg/week, not based on any dose-finding study. IVIG is an expensive multidonor human blood product with dose-related side effects. Our aim was to describe the amount of severe thrombocytopenia according to two different doses of IVIG. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed a cohort study, where two dosage regimes of IVIG were evaluated in the treatment of pregnant women suffering from FNAIT with a previous affected child without intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Cases, treated with 0.5 or 1.0 g/kg/week, were selected from the international multicenter No IntraCranial Hemorrhage (NOICH) registry. Outcome was neonatal platelet (PLT) count at birth and amount of severe thrombocytopenia. Furthermore the appearance of ICH was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 109 women were included in the study, 46 in the 0.5 IVIG group and 63 in the 1.0 IVIG group. There was no difference in PLT count at birth (mean, 112 vs. 119; crude difference, 7; confidence interval [CI], -37.4 to 23.7]) and incidence of severe thrombocytopenia (<30 × 10(9) /L; n = 7/46 vs. n = 7/63; odds ratio, 1.43 [CI, 0.46-4.42]). No ICH occurred. CONCLUSION: In pregnancies with FNAIT with a previous affected child without ICH, treatment with IVIG in a weekly dose of 0.5 or 1.0 g/kg results in comparable neonatal PLT count at birth and degree of thrombocytopenia.

Omission of fetal sampling in treatment of subsequent pregnancies in fetal-neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia.

BACKGROUND: Fetal-neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia affects approximately 1 of 1000 live births, most of which are not severely thrombocytopenic. Despite effective treatment with intravenous gammaglobulin and/or prednisone, antenatal management of a subsequent affected pregnancy is complicated by the risks associated with fetal blood sampling. Furthermore, there are no biomarker(s) of high risk other than the occurrence of intracranial hemorrhage in a previous sibling. Management of these high-risk pregnancies requires intensive treatment initiated at 12 weeks of gestation. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate whether empiric escalation of therapy at 32 weeks allows the omission of fetal blood sampling in all fetal-neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia-affected patients. Specifically, we sought to determine whether intensive intravenous gammaglobulin-based regimens for the treatment of a subsequent fetal-neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia-affected pregnancy followed by empirically escalated intravenous gammaglobulin and prednisone treatment would increase the fetal platelet count and thus safely allow omission of fetal blood sampling in the antepartum management of these patients. STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled study, 99 women with fetal-neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia whose prior affected child did not have an intracranial hemorrhage were randomized to receive an intensive intravenous gammaglobulin-based regimen: 2 g/kg per week or intravenous gammaglobulin 1 g/kg per week plus prednisone 0.5 mg/kg per day, starting at 20-30 weeks of gestation. Escalated therapy (intravenous gammaglobulin 2 g/kg per week plus prednisone 0.5 mg/kg per day) was recommended and usually initiated at 32 weeks when fetal counts were <50,000/mL(3) or when fetal blood sampling was not performed. The preliminary report of this study from 2007 demonstrated the efficacy of both intravenous gammaglobulin-based regimens in most patients. Most patients who underwent fetal sampling had adequate fetal counts and therefore did not have their treatment escalated. This post hoc analysis describes the 29 fetuses who had their treatment escalated either because they had low counts at 32 weeks or when sampling was not performed. This study explored whether the empiric escalation of treatment at 32 weeks was sufficiently effective in increasing fetal platelet counts in these patients. RESULTS: Mean fetal and birth counts of fetuses randomized to each of the 2 initial treatment groups were all >100,000/mL(3). Three neonates had an intracranial hemorrhage; all 3 were grade 1 and all had birth platelet counts >130,000/mL(3). In a post hoc analysis, 19 fetuses undergoing fetal blood sampling at 32 weeks had fetal platelet counts <50,000/mL(3) despite their initial treatment. Of these 19, birth platelet counts were >50,000/mL(3) in 11 of 13 fetuses who received escalated treatment compared with only 1 of 6 of those who did not (P = .01); only 3 fetuses that received initial therapy followed by escalated treatment had birth platelet counts <50,000/mL(3) and none had an intracranial hemorrhage. The platelet counts of 14 of 15 fetuses that received empirically escalated treatment without sampling were >50,000/mL(3) at birth. In addition, none of these had an intracranial hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: The 2 recommended protocols of intensive initial treatment followed by empiric escalation of therapy at 32 weeks of gestation are reasonably safe, effective in increasing fetal platelet counts, and allow omission of fetal blood sampling by increasing the fetal platelet count in almost all cases.

Low-Dose versus Standard-Dose Intravenous Immunoglobulin to Prevent Fetal Intracranial Hemorrhage in Fetal and Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia: A Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Pregnancies at risk of fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) are commonly treated using weekly intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) at 1 g/kg maternal weight. IVIG is an expensive multidonor human blood product with dose-related side effects. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of IVIG at a lower dose, i.e., 0.5 g/kg. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled multicenter trial conducted in Sweden, the Netherlands and Australia. Pregnant women with human platelet antigen alloantibodies and an affected previous child without intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) were enrolled. The participants were randomized to IVIG at 0.5 or 1 g/kg per week. The analyses were per intention to treat. The primary outcome was fetal or neonatal ICH. Secondary outcomes were platelet count at birth, maternal and neonatal IgG levels, neonatal treatment and bleeding other than ICH. RESULTS: A total of 23 women were randomized into two groups (low dose: n = 12; standard dose: n = 11). The trial was stopped early due to poor recruitment. No ICH occurred. The median newborn platelet count was 81 × 10(9)/l (range 8-269) in the 0.5 g/kg group versus 110 × 10(9)/l (range 11-279) in the 1 g/kg group (p = 0.644). CONCLUSION: The risk of adverse outcomes in FNAIT pregnancies treated with IVIG at 0.5 g/kg is very low, similar to that using 1 g/kg, although our uncompleted trial lacked the power to conclusively prove the noninferiority of using the low dose.

A Doppler velocimetry evaluation of intestinal blood flow characteristics in neonates receiving intravenous immunoglobulin therapy: a prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate intestinal blood flow changes after intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) infusion among neonates with Rh isoimmunization and alloimmune thrombocytopenia. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted in level III NICU from July 2011 through August 2012. Thirty three consecutive instances (30 neonates) of IVIg treatment (1 g/kg) were studied. Celiac (CA) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) doppler evaluations were performed immediately prior (baseline), immediately after and 12 to18 h following IVIg infusion. Peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, time-averaged mean velocity, pulsatility index, resistive index and systolic/diastolic ratio were measured. The doppler indices measured immediately after and 12 to 18 h after IVIg infusion were compared with the baseline values. RESULTS: The mean gestation and birth weight of the cohort were 36 ± 2 wk and 2597 ± 563 g respectively. Doppler flow variables measured immediately after and 12 to 18 h after IVIg were comparable to baseline values, in both the arteries. However, systolic/diastolic ratio in SMA immediately post-IVIg was lower than baseline, [median (IQR): 5 (3, 9) vs. 7 (4, 14), respectively; p=0.02]. None of the study infants developed feed intolerance or necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant change in the celiac and SMA blood flows following IVIg therapy in neonates with Rh isoimmunization and alloimmune thrombocytopenia.

Modified antibody in fetal alloimmunization.

In this issue of Blood, Ghevaert et al propose to develop a therapeutic antibody for fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) that would block the actual antibody in sensitized mothers from binding and therefore prevent, or at least ameliorate, fetal and neonatal thrombocytopenia in fetuses who would otherwise be affected.1 The goal of the group is to engineer an antibody reagent that would on the one hand not engage conventional activating Fc receptors and on the other hand interact normally with FcRn, allowing transplacental passage.

Inhibition of HPA-1a alloantibody-mediated platelet destruction by a deglycosylated anti-HPA-1a monoclonal antibody in mice: toward targeted treatment of fetal-alloimmune thrombocytopenia.

Fetal/neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is often caused by maternal alloantibodies against the human platelet antigen (HPA)-1a, which opsonizes fetal platelets (PLTs). Subsequent PLT destruction is mediated via the Fc part of the alloantibodies. The monoclonal antibody (mAb) SZ21 binds to the HPA-1a epitope and inhibits the binding of maternal alloantibodies. However, it also promotes complement activation and phagocytosis. Deglycosylation of antibodies abrogates the Fc-related effector functions. We modified the N-glycan of SZ21 by endoglycosidase F. The in vivo transplacental transport of N-glycan-modified (NGM)-SZ21 was not impaired. When injected into pregnant mice, both native-SZ21 and NGM-SZ21 were transported equally into fetal circulation (8.9% vs 8.7%, respectively, P = .58). Neither the binding properties of NGM-SZ21 to HPA-1a in surface plasmon resonance, nor the inhibition of anti-HPA-1a-induced PLT phagocytosis, were affected by N-glycan modification. NGM-SZ21 prevented PLT destruction induced by maternal anti-HPA-1a antibodies in vivo in a mouse model (PLT clearance after 5 hours; 18% vs 62%, in the presence or absence of NGM-SZ21, respectively, P = .013). Deglycosylation of SZ21 abrogates Fc-effector functions without interfering with placental transport or the ability to block anti-HPA-1a binding. Humanized, deglycosylated anti-HPA-1a mAbs may represent a novel treatment strategy to prevent anti-HPA-1a-mediated PLT destruction in FNAIT.

Recombinant HPA-1a antibody therapy for treatment of fetomaternal alloimmune thrombocytopenia: proof of principle in human volunteers.

Fetomaternal alloimmune thrombocytopenia, caused by the maternal generation of antibodies against fetal human platelet antigen-1a (HPA-1a), can result in intracranial hemorrhage and intrauterine death. We have developed a therapeutic human recombinant high-affinity HPA-1a antibody (B2G1Δnab) that competes for binding to the HPA-1a epitope but carries a modified constant region that does not bind to Fcγ receptors. In vitro studies with a range of clinical anti-HPA-1a sera have shown that B2G1Δnab blocks monocyte chemiluminescence by >75%. In this first-in-man study, we demonstrate that HPA-1a1b autologous platelets (matching fetal phenotype) sensitized with B2G1Δnab have the same intravascular survival as unsensitized platelets (190 hours), while platelets sensitized with a destructive immunoglobulin G1 version of the antibody (B2G1) are cleared from the circulation in 2 hours. Mimicking the situation in fetuses receiving B2G1Δnab as therapy, we show that platelets sensitized with a combination of B2G1 (representing destructive HPA-1a antibody) and B2G1Δnab survive 3 times as long in circulation compared with platelets sensitized with B2G1 alone. This confirms the therapeutic potential of B2G1Δnab. The efficient clearance of platelets sensitized with B2G1 also opens up the opportunity to carry out studies of prophylaxis to prevent alloimmunization in HPA-1a-negative mothers.

The implementation of surface plasmon resonance technique in monitoring pregnancies with expected fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia.

BACKGROUND: Maternal anti-HPA-1a alloantibodies are responsible for most cases of severe fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT). The presence of HPA-1a alloantibodies in maternal blood alone does not predict the fetal platelet (PLT) count, and the predictivity of antibody titers determined by enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) is debated. In contrast to EIA, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) provides information on antibody-binding properties. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Sequential sera from pregnant women with expected FNAIT were assessed for HPA-1a alloantibodies using SPR. Group I (n = 6) was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and steroids beginning at 19 weeks of gestation (w.g.), and Group II (n = 4) received intrauterine PLT transfusions (IUT) beginning at 22 w.g. Maternal alloantibodies were quantified using an HPA-1a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) as a standard. Antibody avidity was determined as the ratio of B700 (end of the dissociation phase) to B350 (end of the association phase); the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to determine overall antibody binding. RESULTS: After 22 w.g., alloantibody characteristics remained stable in both groups, while there was a steep decrease in B700 and B350 values between 16 and 22 w.g. (assessed only in Group I), indicating a decrease in anti-HPA-1a alloantibody concentrations. Interestingly, the AUCs of the last maternal sample before elective delivery appeared to be correlated with fetal and neonatal PLT counts (p = 0.014 and 0.017, respectively). CONCLUSION: SPR provides quantitative information on HPA-1a alloantibody characteristics in addition to monoclonal antibody-specific immobilization of platelet antigens. SPR results can be calibrated using a MoAb standard and should be further assessed for a potential correlation with fetal PLT count.

[Advance in thrombopoietic drugs used in treatment of children's immune thrombocytopenia].

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a common acquired hemorrhagic disease. Conventional view considered its pathogenesis as the destruction of platelets induced by platelet associated antibodies, the target of treatment are inhibiting the production of antibodies and blocking the destruction of platelets in reticuloendothelial system, but they are ineffective in part of ITP patients, who transform to chronic/refractory ITP (C/RITP). As to children's C/RITP, the effect of first-line therapy is low, while the second-line therapy isn't effective definitely and has obvious side effects. The safe and effective second-line drugs to prevent disease progressing are urgently required. Recently, a pathogenesis that decrease the platelet production has been confirmed, thrombopoietic drugs, including thrombopoietin (TPO) and its receptor agonist (TRA), are under research and clinical application gradually. Recombinate human TPO (rhTPO) has accomplished Phase III clinical trails in adult C/RITP and tumor children. The Phase III clinical trails of romiplostim and eltrombopag, as the representative of TRA, in adult C/RITP have been performed. There are also two clinical trails of TRA for children's C/RITP, the efficacy and safety have been approved, with the convenience for using. In pediatric population, they have a good clinical application. In this article the research and development of thrombopoietic drugs and their perspective in pediatric clinical use are reviewed.