Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) results from a mismatch between the human platelet antigen (HPA) of the mother and fetus, causing the mother to produce antibodies that attack the baby’s platelets. This disease process is known as alloimmunization.
The term “alloimmunization” simply refers to the body’s immune response against the antibodies present from another individual of the same species. Because the fetus belongs to the mother and poses her no harm, alloimmunization is not commonplace.
Learn more about FNAIT causes and risk factors
Fortunately, there are many treatment options if you have been diagnosed with or are at risk of FNAIT during pregnancy. By closely monitoring your condition, most of the time, any residual effects of alloimmunization can be neutralized.
Out of an abundance of caution, your OB-GYN will typically keep an extra close eye on you during your pregnancy, as well as your newborn post-delivery, to ensure that any complications are dealt with urgently.
What is autommunization?
Autoimmunization, though sounding similar enough to alloimmunization, is a completely different function altogether.
It bears repeating that alloimmunization occurs when the immune system produces a reaction towards the antigens of another individual from the same species. Autoimmunization, however, is the body’s immune response mounted against itself.
Certainly, the healthy cells of your own body pose no harm, so autoimmunization is akin to the immune system gone haywire, no longer knowing how to differentiate between friend and foe.
Common examples of autoimmune diseases are rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Another is rheumatoid arthritis, in which the body mistakenly produces antibodies to attack the joints of your own skeletal system, causing pain and loss of function. Certainly, there is nothing in the bones that pose a real danger to you, yet your body somehow recognizes it as the enemy.
Autoimmunization is not confined to pregnancy
It should be again stressed that, because alloimmunity and autoimmunity are two different things, autoimmunity is by no means an issue of pregnancy. They may sound similar, and may even work in similar ways, but they are not related.
If you have heard from your doctor that your immune system is triggered against your body in the wrong way during pregnancy, they are referring to alloimmunization.
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