Submit a comment
Abstract
Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is a condition characterized by thrombocytopenia in the newborn. If severe, the thrombocytopenia can lead to intracranial hemorrhage. FNAIT arises when maternal antibodies specific for platelet antigens, most commonly β3 integrin, cross the placenta and destroy fetal platelets. Surprisingly, few cases of FNAIT are associated with antibodies specific for the platelet antigen GPIbα, which is a common target in patients with immune thrombocytopenia. In this issue of the JCI, Li et al. have identified a potential reason for this — they find that in the majority of pregnant mice, anti-GPIbα antibodies enhance platelet activation and accelerate thrombus formation in the placenta and that this leads to miscarriage.
Authors
Alvin H. Schmaier
Guidelines
The Editorial Board will only consider comments that are deemed relevant and of interest to readers. The Journal will not post data that have not been subjected to peer review; or a comment that is essentially a reiteration of another comment.
- Comments appear on the Journal’s website and are linked from the original article’s web page.
- Authors are notified by email if their comments are posted.
- The Journal reserves the right to edit comments for length and clarity.
- No appeals will be considered.
- Comments are not indexed in PubMed.
Specific requirements
- Maximum length, 400 words
- Entered as plain text or HTML
- Author’s name and email address, to be posted with the comment
- Declaration of all potential conflicts of interest (even if these are not ultimately posted); see the Journal’s conflict-of-interest policy
- Comments may not include figures
Copyright © 2026 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)