TOPIC:

Hi there! I was wondering if anyone might be able to give me any insight to my situation. just hoping someone might be able to help me. ... I am 37.5 weeks pregnant. I just found out a few weeks ago that I tested positive for HLA class 1 platelet antibody. They only knew this because at 32 weeks ( I think) they (OB's) routinely check every womens platelet count and mine was borderline low,at a 132,so they wanted to keep checking just to make sure it wasn't going any lower. It did continue to go lower,116, still not scary low, but after it kept going down they decided to test for platelet antibodies, and I tested positive for the HLA class 1 antibody. I asked them what this meant and the OB told me she didn't really know, that I would have to go see a hematologist. So I did and all he told me was they were going to keep an eye on my count.MY count actually went up to a 123. and then I have had it checked twice again since then but dont know the results because the dr doesnt seem to want to explain anything to me. Now I hear that the antibody can pass to the baby and attack its platelets. The Dr is not really giving me a whole lot of information which is very frustrating, long story. Does having this antibody mean that I have ITP or that my baby will have or could have itp? THis is what he said I have but im not sure how he came up with this diagnosis??? Is it just because of the antibody? Or is it possible that I just have gestational thrombocytopenia. This is my third baby, I have never had this problem before. Just looking for some answers. THank You in advance!!!!!!!!

I just found out my last count was 104,000 on 6/8. On 5/12 it was 123,000

Bobbi - most women with ITP have perfectly healthy babies. A few may have a baby that has lower than normal platelets. This is usually only temporary, since the mothers antibodies pass to the baby and cause a temporary drop in counts. Those eventually die off and the baby usually does not produce their own antibodies; platelet counts then return to normal.

It's impossible to say whether or not you have gestational ITP. Only time will tell on that one.

Solid answers are hard to come by since the outcome cannot be predicted. Anything can happen. But the bottom line is that the odds are in your favor to have a very healthy baby, especially since they know about it and can monitor the baby.

A positive result indicates the presence of circulating antibodies directed to either HLA class I antigens or to platelet specific antigens or directed to both. Positive results are most often associated with neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia and post-transfusion purpura, but may also be observed in immune thrombocytopenia and drug-induced thrombocytopenia, disorders usually associated with direct (cell bound) platelet antibodies.

www.questdiagnostics.com/hcp/intguide/jsp/showintguidepage.jsp?fn=TH_PlateletAb_Indirect.htm