How is Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia (NAIT) diagnosed?

Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia (NAIT) is primarily diagnosed through cord blood analysis, which helps in determining the platelet count of the newborn and identifying the presence of specific antibodies that may be causing the thrombocytopenia. In NAIT, maternal antibodies target fetal platelets, leading to a significant drop in platelet levels. This diagnosis is important to establish the severity of the condition and to facilitate timely management and treatment for the newborn.

While procedures like percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) can provide valuable information regarding fetal health, it is not commonly used as the sole diagnostic method for NAIT. Instead, cord blood analysis is the standard practice, as it directly assesses the newborn's condition post-delivery. Therefore, the reliance on cord blood analysis, rather than exclusively implementing invasive techniques like PUBS, aligns with clinical guidelines and best practices in the management of NAIT.

Maternal blood tests can also contribute to the diagnosis by identifying the presence of antibodies that may affect the fetus; however, they do not confirm the condition without the complementary evidence from the newborn's cord blood. Additionally, ultrasound is not an appropriate diagnostic tool for NAIT, as it cannot evaluate platelet counts or antibodies directly. Thus