Botero JP, Reese JA, George JN, McIntosh JJ. Severe thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia in pregnancy: A guide for the consulting hematologist.
Am J Hematol 2021;
96:1655-1665. [PMID:
34424560 PMCID:
PMC8616841 DOI:
10.1002/ajh.26328]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A hematologist receives a call from a maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) physician about a previously healthy patient who became ill at 25 weeks' gestation. Her mental status is deteriorating. There are signs of fetal distress. Platelet count and hemoglobin are falling. The MFM physician is considering the hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome. For the hematologist, everything seems unfamiliar. Our goal is to provide hematologists with the fundamental knowledge required for understanding and managing these patients who become suddenly and seriously ill during pregnancy and in whom thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia are part of their presentation.
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