Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

DIC is a rare, life‐threatening condition that prevents blood from clotting normally. The blood clots reduce blood flow and can block blood from reaching the body's organs. This increased clotting can use up the platelets and clotting factors in the blood and mean that fewer platelets and clotting factors are available. This can then lead to excessive bleeding.

Haematological malignancies

Blood cancers and related diseases that primarily affect the bone marrow or blood cells. The bone marrow is the soft inner part of bones where blood is made.

The three main types of blood cells are:

• red blood cells, which carry oxygen from the lungs to every part of the body;

• white blood cells, which help the body fight infection;

• platelets, which help control bleeding.

Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT)

NAIT is characterised by the destruction of platelets in the fetus or newborn by antibodies produced by the mother. The fetus has proteins on the surface of the platelet that it has inherited from its father but are not present in the mother. The mother sees these proteins as "foreign" and may respond by producing antibodies against these intruders. Antibodies, an important part of the body's immune system. The antibodies produced by the mother may cross the placenta, enter the baby's bloodstream and destroy the unborn baby's platelets.