Human platelet antigen‐1 (Zw) typing of fetuses by analysis of polymerase chain reaction‐amplified genomic DNA from amniocytes

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Abstract
Prenatal typing for the human platelet antigens-1 (HPA) permits identification of a fetus at risk for neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAITP) in cases of HPA-1 incompatibility in which the father is heterozygous for the HPA-1a antigen. Diagnostic cordocentesis and phenotyping of the fetal platelets are used for this purpose. We applied allele-specific restriction enzyme analysis on polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified DNA purified from amniocytes. This assays allows early second trimester typing for HPA-1 alleles. We were able to determine the genotype of three fetuses at risk. Iatrogenic fetal loss is lower with amniocentesis than with cordocentesis. Therefore, this technique is a welcome addition to the antenatal management of NAITP.