P61.0: Transient neonatal thrombocytopenia

Blood is made up of a liquid part and different blood cells, among other things. The blood cells include the red blood cells, the white blood cells and the platelets. Platelets are important for blood clotting. Platelets and various clotting proteins in the blood are involved in blood clotting. The platelets can adhere to one another in such a way that they stop a bleed. The clotting proteins stabilize the platelets that have stuck together. This enables wounds to heal, for example.

There are different reasons why a newborn baby might not have enough platelets in its blood. The mother's immune system may have produced certain antibodies that are attacking the child's blood platelets. The antibodies can get into the child's blood via the placenta. The placenta forms in the mother’s womb during pregnancy, and connects the mother and child. In the child's blood, the mother's antibodies can destroy the child's blood platelets. The amount of platelets may also have reduced if the newborn baby has an inflammation caused by pathogens.

The newborn baby may also have too few platelets because blood has been exchanged. A blood exchange transfusion involves a certain volume of blood being taken from the baby and replaced with blood from another person. Harmful substances can be removed from the child's blood in this way.

If there are too few platelets, bleeding may occur. Bloody spots or bruises may appear on the skin. When a newborn baby has too few platelets, they can have bleeding in the brain. Bleeds may also last longer than usual.