[Thrombocytopenia and pregnancy]

Frequency and Outcome of Pregnant Females Presenting With Thrombocytopenia at a Tertiary Care Hospital

BACKGROUND

Platelet-related problems are more frequently discovered in women during pregnancy because screening is carried out as part of the initial clinic examination using automated blood counts. This study was done to find out the frequency and outcomes of pregnant females presenting with thrombocytopenia at a tertiary care hospital.

METHODOLOGY

This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from April 2023 to September 2023. This study involved 280 pregnant women presenting in the third trimester. Blood examination was acquired, and a platelet count less than 150x109/L was labeled as thrombocytopenia. Outcome variables were frequency of thrombocytopenia, while post-delivery, frequency of placental abruption, preterm delivery, stillbirth, need for blood transfusion, and poor Apgar score were noted and compared among women with and without thrombocytopenia.

RESULTS

In a total of 280 pregnant females, the mean age and gestational age at the time of presentation were 29.34±4.38 years and 31.30±2.87 weeks, respectively. The mean BMI of the females was 27.97±4.72 kg/m2. Thrombocytopenia was noted in 34 females (12.1%). Placental abruption, preterm delivery, need for blood transfusion, stillbirth, and poor Apgar score were observed in 1.4%, 4.3%, 8.2%, 1.1%, and 2.1% cases, respectively. Placental abruption (11.8% vs. 0.0%; p<0.001), preterm delivery (29.4% vs. 0.8%; p<0.001), need of blood transfusion (35.3% vs. 4.5%; p<0.001), stillbirth (8.8% vs. 0.0%; p<0.001), and poor Apgar score (17.6% vs. 0.0%; p<0.001) were all significantly higher among pregnant women with thrombocytopenia as compared to those with a normal platelet count.

CONCLUSION

The frequency of thrombocytopenia was 12.1% among pregnant females. The frequency of placental abruption, preterm delivery, need for blood transfusion, stillbirth, and poor Apgar score were all significantly higher among pregnant women with thrombocytopenia as compared to those with a normal platelet count, irrespective of the patient's age, parity, and BMI.

Risk factors for severe neonatal thrombocytopenia in cases of maternal immune thrombocytopenia

AIM

Maternal immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) may induce neonatal thrombocytopenia (nTP), which carries a risk of neonatal haemorrhagic complications. Some risk factors for nTP have reached consensus such as maternal splenectomy and previous severe nTP, while others such as maternal platelet count have not.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a university hospital, including 145 neonates of mothers with ITP. We assessed the risk of severe nTP and bleeding complications.

RESULTS

Severe nTP in the first 24 h after birth was more common in case of maternal splenectomy (OR = 4.4) and a previous severe nTP (OR = 46.9). Severe nTP at nadir (lowest platelet count during the initial postnatal days) was more frequent in cases of a previous neonate with severe nTP (OR = 42), maternal treatment during pregnancy (OR = 2.4) and a low maternal platelet count during pregnancy or at delivery. These risk factors were not significantly associated with an increased risk of neonatal haemorrhagic complications.

CONCLUSION

In our population, we confirm the risk of severe nTP in case of maternal splenectomy or previous nTP. By monitoring the platelet count to its nadir, we identified three additional risk factors: maternal treatment during pregnancy and low maternal platelet count during pregnancy or low maternal platelet count at delivery.

Primary immune thrombocytopenia in adults: Belgian recommendations for diagnosis and treatment anno 2021 made by the Belgian Hematology Society

The Belgian Hematology Society (BHS) updated the 2013 guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) [1]. As knowledge about ITP pathophysiology is increasing, the mode of action of old therapies is better understood and novel drugs are introduced to target more specific pathways.Corticosteroids with or without intravenous immunoglobulins (IgIV) remain the first-line treatment. According to the updated international guidelines a short course of corticosteroids rather than a prolonged treatment has to be recommended. The same guidelines stress that consequent therapies as thrombopoietic agents (TPO-RAs) and rituximab should be available independent of duration of ITP.Although the majority of recommendations is based on very low-quality evidence, it is strongly advised to individualize the ITP management taking patient values. and preferences in account. The main treatment goal in all ITP patients must be to maintain a safe platelet count to prevent or stop bleeding with a minimum of toxicity and not to normalize the platelet count.

[Establishment and one-year evaluation of an internal medicine consultation in a maternity]

OBJECTIVE

In the obstetric medicine movement and in response to requests for appointments in internal medicine by obstetricians and midwives, we created an internal medicine consultation within the maternity ward of our General Hospital, and provide feedback after 1 year.

METHODS

This retrospective descriptive study took place at the Robert Ballanger Intercommunal Hospital Center in Aulnay-sous-Bois in Seine-Saint-Denis (France) between 3rd March 2016 and 9th March 2017, the first year of the internal medicine consultation, one afternoon every 15 days, in the maternity level 2b.

RESULTS

Out of 121 appointments, 93 consultations were conducted for 63 patients. The main reasons were: thromboembolism (n=2), placental vascular disease (n=14), anemia (n=9), HIV infection (n=8), fetal deaths in utero (n=6), thrombocytopenia (n=6) and autoimmune biological abnormalities (n=3). Although none etiology was found for 16 patients (including 11 seen for placental vascular disease), a diagnosis was made in 75% of cases with a suitable therapeutic attitude. The diagnoses were varied: antiphospholipid syndrom, hypertension, but also discovery of a primary biliary cirrhosis, of a veritable pregnancy-induced immune thrombocytopenia induced by the pregnancy and of a lymphoma-associated on anemia.

CONCLUSIONS

This consultation provides satisfaction in terms of interdisciplinary organization and collaboration. It appears useful to patients, leading to prevention advice, various diagnoses and sometimes long-term follow-up.

Thrombocytopenia in Pregnancy Nearing Term: A Clinical Analysis

Background and aim

Thrombocytopenia in pregnancy varies from benign to severe with fetomaternal complications. We aimed to evaluate thrombocytopenia in pregnant Indian females in third trimester mainly during labor and delivery.

Materials and methods

It was a prospective observational study done in a tertiary care teaching public hospital over 1 year. Consecutive 150 pregnant patients admitted to labor ward with thrombocytopenia were analyzed for etiology of thrombocytopenia, severity, mode of delivery, type of anesthesia, and fetomaternal complications. SPSS version 17 was used for the analysis.

Results

Most common cause of thrombocytopenia was preeclampsia 50 (33.3%) and preeclampsia with hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme, and low platelet count syndrome (HELLP syndrome) 31 (20.7%) together followed by gestational 42 (28%). Infectious causes such as malaria, dengue, and leptospirosis were found in 19 patients (12.7%). Moderate to severe thrombocytopenia was seen in preeclampsia, preeclampsia with HELLP syndrome, and infectious etiology. Eleven patients (7.3%) developed antepartum hemorrhage (APH), 24 (16%) postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), 12 (8%) required ICU admission, and 3 (2%) mortalities were noted. Fifteen neonates (10%) needed ICU admission. Complications were observed in preeclampsia with HELLP syndrome (82%) and infectious causes (18%) and none in gestational. Sixty-eight patients underwent lower segment cesarean section (LSCS), among them 41 (27.3%) were given spinal anesthesia (SA) and none of them developed any neurological complications.

Conclusion

Study widened the spectrum of causes for thrombocytopenia in pregnant patients. Preeclampsia with or without HELLP syndrome and vector-borne infections such as malaria, dengue, and leptospirosis were found to be very important causes of moderate to severe thrombocytopenia and were associated with complications. Spinal anesthesia is safe in parturients with mild thrombocytopenia. Awareness and vigilance about thrombocytopenia is vital to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.

How to cite this article

Harde M, Bhadade R, deSouza R, Jhingan M. Thrombocytopenia in Pregnancy Nearing Term: A Clinical Analysis. IJCCM 2019;23(11):503–508.

Regional anesthesia in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension

Pregnancy induced hypertension is a hypertensive disorder, which occurs in 5% to 7% of all pregnancies. These parturients present to the labour and delivery unit ranging from gestational hypertension to HELLP syndrome. It is essential to understand the various clinical conditions that may mimic preeclampsia and the urgency of cesarean delivery, which may improve perinatal outcome. The administration of general anesthesia (GA) increases morbidity and mortality in both mother and baby. The provision of regional anesthesia when possible maintains uteroplacental blood flow, avoids the complications with GA, improves maternal and neonatal outcome. The use of ultrasound may increase the success rate. This review emphasizes on the regional anesthetic considerations when such parturients present to the labor and delivery unit.

Lower segment cesarean section in a patient with severe thrombocytopenia and pregnancy induced hypertension

Thrombocytopenia in pregnancy carries a major risk of feto-maternal morbidity and mortality. We present a case of hypocellular bone marrow with severe thrombocytopenia with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) for emergency lower segment cesarean section (LSCS). This disease is characterized by pancytopenia and hypocellular bone marrow with impaired morphology and maturation. Causes of death due to this disease include hemorrhage and infection secondary to thrombocytopenia and neutropenia especially following surgery. We report successful management of emergency LSCS with severe thrombocytopenia with severe PIH.

Some hemostatic parameters in women with obstetric hemorrhage in Sokoto, Nigeria

Obstetric hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of obstetric hemorrhage on the prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and platelet count (PLC). Women with obstetric hemorrhage were divided into two categories, women with antepartum hemorrhage (APH) and those with postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Pregnant women without hemorrhage were included as controls. Eighty-six pregnant women aged 18–45 years (mean age 36.25 ± 10.50 years) were presented to the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of Maryam Abacha Women and Children Hospital in Sokoto Metropolis, Sokoto State, Nigeria with history of obstetric hemorrhage. Forty-three age-matched nonhemorrhaging parturient women were included as controls. The determination of PT and APTT was done by manual methods using commercially prepared Diagen reagent kits, whereas PLC was done by manual methods using a hemocytometer. The results of PT and APTT were significantly higher among women with APH (20.7 ± 4.226 seconds and 46.04 ± 8.689 seconds, respectively) and among women with PPH (23.17 ± 2.708 seconds and 53.78 ± 4.089 seconds, respectively) compared to normal pregnant women (15.85 ± 0.8930 seconds and 36.225 ± 5.010 seconds, respectively) (P = 0.0001). Similarly, the PLC was significantly higher among normal pregnant women compared to those with APH and PPH (291.425 ± 75.980 × 10⁹ compared to 154.83 ± 47.019 × 10⁹ and 136.43 ± 43.894 × 10⁹, respectively) (P = 0.0001). The PT and APTT of women who presented with PPH were significantly higher compared to those who presented with APH (23.17 ± 2.708 seconds and 53.78 ± 4.089 seconds versus 20.7 ± 4.226 seconds and 46.04 ± 8.689 seconds, respectively) (P = 0.02 and P = 0.04, respectively). The PLC was significantly higher among women who presented with APH compared to those who presented with PPH (P = 0.01). The PT and APTT values were higher in the third trimester among women with APH (24.38 ± 2.33 seconds and 52.25 ± 6.71 seconds, respectively), PPH (24.75 ± 2.63 seconds and 58.25 ± 2.53 seconds, respectively), and control women (16.00 ± 0.82 seconds and 34.42 ± 5.59 seconds, respectively) compared to those in first and second trimester. The PLC was significantly lower in the third trimester among APH, PPH, and normal pregnant women (131 ± 23.02 × 10⁹, 99 ± 21.46 × 10⁹, and 192.86 ± 25.44 × 10⁹, respectively). PT and APTT values correlated positively and significantly with trimester (r = 0.52 and 0.65, respectively; P = 0.01). The PLC of women with APH, PPH, and normal control women correlated negatively with trimester (r = −0.36, −0.54, and −0.28, respectively; P = 0.05). Obstetrics hemorrhage compounded the hemostatic status of pregnant women in Sokoto, Nigeria. There is need for the provision of rapid diagnosis of coagulopathy to guide the provision of best therapeutic management options.