Alloantibodies to glycoprotein Ia/IIa (anti-HPA-5a and-5b) and IIb/IIIa (anti-HPA1a,-3a and-4a) in Nigerian parous women

Human platelet antibodies are often implicated in conditions such as neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and platelet refractoriness; however, the frequency of such alloantibodies has not been reported in Nigeria and West Africa. A cross section of apparently healthy adult female staff at a tertiary health facility in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, was screened for alloantibodies to human platelet antigens (HPA) using the GTI PakPlus qualitative solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Among the 100 women screened, no anti-glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (anti-HPA-Ia,-3a and -4a) antibodies were detected; however, prevalence of anti-glycoprotein Ia/IIa (anti-HPA-5b) was 30% and pf anti-glycoprotein Ia/IIa (anti-HPA-5a) was 18%. Parity had a significant influence on the development to HPA antibodies (Fisher's Exact test: 11.683, P<0.05; 13.577, P<0.01). Platelet count did not have an influence on the development of antibodies (P>0.05). Clearly, there is need to initiate platelet serology in this setting and also a need to educate women about the risk associated with frequent pregnancies. Furthermore, caution should be exercised when recruiting parous women as blood donors