PLATELET GROUP POLYMORPHISM IN PROVENCE (SOUTHERN FRANCE) - COMPARISON WITH FREQUENCIES OF PLATELET SPECIFIC ALLOANTIGENS IN OTHER POPULATIONS

Systems HPA-1 (Pl(a)); HPA-3 (Bak) HPA-5 (Br) are involved in neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia and post-transfusion purpura. The frequencies of platelet-specific antigens in these three systems have been studied among one hundred one unrelated blood donors from Provence (South of France) for three generations. Typing was performed by the MAIPA test (monoclonal antibody-specific immobilization platelet antigen). The phenotypes frequencies found were: HPA-1a (Pl(A1)): 97%; HPA-3a (Bak(a)): 88,1%. These frequencies are quite similar to those reported in Europe and North America, but are different compared to Oriental and South American populations. Our Provencal population has the highest frequency of HPA-5b (Br(a)) yet reported: 23.8%. These results define the polymorphism of platelet-specific antigens in Provencal population. Similar studies, among other populations, would provide new data for geographical haematology, which has so far been based on erythrocyte, leucocyte and serum polymophisms. The variations between populations in these platelet-specific polymorphisms would be so many useful descriptive elements for the epidemiological study of associated diseases.