Abstract

Although the aetiology of the most common haematological disorders of the newborn has been known for decades, the question of the most optimal treatment is still a challenge in clinical practice. Questions such as when and to whom to transfuse erythrocytes, platelets and plasma, how to manage and treat alloimmune haematological disorders in the fetus and neonate, how to treat anaemia in the preterm infant, and how to predict haemolytic events in the fetus and neonate are all questions that we as neonatologists need to address in high quality, randomised, multicentre research. This article discusses some of the challenges of transfusion management, the prediction of haemolytic events in haemolytic diseases of the fetus and neonate, and neonatal alloimmune diseases.

Key words: anemia, thrombocytopenia, hemolysis, hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn, alloimmune thrombocytopenia of the fetus and newborn