Diagnosis and management of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy

Severe Thrombocytopenia in Pregnancy Secondary to Influenza A

Thrombocytopenia is a common finding in pregnancy, with the majority due to gestational thrombocytopenia. Gestational thrombocytopenia is an innocuous condition that rarely requires treatment. Immune thrombocytopenia accounts for only a minority of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy and can have serious implications, especially in the peripartum period, including restrictions on birth plans and complications such as postpartum haemorrhage and neonatal thrombocytopenia. We present a case of possible immune thrombocytopenia secondary to influenza A infection. The case involves a 19-year-old, gravida-2, para-1, who developed severe thrombocytopenia shortly after influenza A, with a nadir platelet count of 31 × 109/L. The platelet count returned to normal levels after six days of oral prednisolone 25 mg. This case highlights the importance of a thorough workup to identify more serious conditions causing thrombocytopenia.

Navigating Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia During Pregnancy With Management Strategies and Considerations: A Comprehensive Review

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by a reduction in platelet count due to autoantibody-mediated platelet destruction. ITP presents unique challenges during pregnancy, affecting both maternal and fetal health. This comprehensive review explores the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management strategies of ITP in pregnant women, emphasizing the importance of individualized care. The incidence of ITP in pregnancy is significant, with potential complications including maternal hemorrhage and neonatal thrombocytopenia. Effective management is crucial to minimize these risks and ensure optimal outcomes. First-line treatments typically include corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), with second-line options such as immunosuppressive agents and thrombopoietin receptor agonists. This review highlights the significance of multidisciplinary care and the need for careful monitoring and adjustment of treatment plans based on the severity of thrombocytopenia and the pregnancy stage. This review aims to enhance clinical decision-making and improve maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by ITP by providing a detailed analysis of current practices and emerging therapies.

Navigating Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia During Pregnancy: Management Strategies and Considerations: A Comprehensive Review

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by a low platelet count due to the immune system's destruction of its platelets. During pregnancy, ITP poses significant challenges due to the need to balance maternal and fetal health. This comprehensive review aims to explore the pathophysiology, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies for ITP in pregnant women and discuss emerging treatments and future research directions. A thorough examination of current literature was conducted, including studies on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, and treatment options for ITP in pregnancy. Relevant guidelines and expert consensus were also reviewed to provide a comprehensive understanding of best practices for managing this condition. The management of ITP in pregnancy requires a multidisciplinary approach and individualized treatment plans. First-line therapies include corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), with second-line options such as thrombopoietin receptor agonists and immunosuppressive agents reserved for refractory cases. The choice of treatment depends on the severity of thrombocytopenia, the presence of bleeding symptoms, and gestational age. Special considerations include the risk of neonatal thrombocytopenia and the need for careful monitoring during labor and delivery. Emerging therapies and novel research offer promising advancements, though further studies are needed to validate their safety and efficacy. ITP in pregnancy is a complex condition that necessitates a careful balance between treating the mother and protecting the fetus. The management strategies must be tailored to each patient's needs, minimizing risks and optimizing outcomes. Continued research into the underlying mechanisms and treatment options will be crucial to improving care for pregnant women with ITP. This review provides a detailed synthesis of current knowledge and offers practical guidance for healthcare providers managing ITP during pregnancy.

The extent of postpartum cardiac reverse remodeling is reflected in urine proteome

The association of postpartum cardiac reverse remodeling (RR) with urinary proteome, particularly in pregnant women with cardiovascular (CV) risk factors who show long-term increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality is unknown. We aim to profile the urinary proteome in pregnant women with/without CV risk factors to identify proteins associated with postpartum RR. Our study included a prospective cohort of 32 healthy and 27 obese and/or hypertensive and/or diabetic pregnant women who underwent transthoracic echocardiography, pulse-wave-velocity, and urine collection at the 3rd trimester and 6 months postpartum. Shotgun HPLC-MS/MS profiled proteins. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to identify associations between urinary proteins and left ventricle mass (LVM), a surrogate of RR. An increase in arterial stiffness was documented from 3rd trimester to 6 months after delivery, being significantly elevated in women with CV risk factors. In addition, the presence of at least one CV risk factor was associated with worse LVM RR. We identified 6 and 11 proteins associated with high and low LVM regression, respectively. These proteins were functionally linked with insulin-like growth factor (IGF) transport and uptake regulation by IGF binding-proteins, platelet activation, signaling and aggregation and the immune system's activity. The concentration of IGF-1 in urine samples was associated with low LVM regression after delivery. Urinary proteome showed a predicting potential for identifying pregnant women with incomplete postpartum RR.

Aplastic Anaemia in Pregnancy: A Case-Based Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Aplastic anaemia (AA) is a rare and life-threatening haematologic disorder characterised by pancytopenia and bone marrow failure. Its occurrence during pregnancy is exceedingly rare, posing significant risks and management challenges for both the mother and the foetus. We present here the case of a 23-year-old female, six months pregnant, diagnosed with severe aplastic anaemia (AA), aiming to highlight the diagnostic challenges and management considerations of AA in pregnancy. Our case underscores the critical nature of considering aplastic anaemia in differential diagnosis for pregnant patients presenting with unexplained pancytopenia. Based on that, we performed a comprehensive literature review of the past 20 years of papers published in the English language identified through searches in PubMed, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Embase and the Cochrane Library, to provide an in-depth analysis of the current understanding of AA in pregnancy. We emphasise the necessity for cautious yet thorough investigation in such cases to avoid complications in both maternal and foetal health, focusing attention on the need for further research into safe and effective treatment protocols for managing AA in pregnancy, given the complexities introduced by the condition and its treatment on pregnancy outcomes.

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.

Pregnancy outcomes and adverse events in patients with recurrent miscarriage receiving fondaparinux versus low molecular-weight heparin: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Current opinion on the superiority of fondaparinux versus low molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in treating recurrent miscarriage is controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively compare the pregnancy outcomes and adverse events in patients with recurrent miscarriage receiving fondaparinux versus LMWH.

METHODS

EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane, China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI), Wanfang Database, and China Science and Technology Journal Database (CQVIP) databases were searched for articles reporting fondaparinux versus LMWH in treating recurrent miscarriage till June 10, 2022. Inclusion criteria for study screening were: (i) randomized, controlled trials (RCT), non-randomized controlled studies, or observational studies; (ii) patients aged over 18 years; (iii) patients with recurrent miscarriage during gestation period; (iv) patients in the experimental/observational group who received FD, and patients in the control group who received LMWH; (v) studies involving at least one outcome of interest for the current analysis. Exclusion criteria were: (i) systematic reviews, meta-analyses, case reports, or animal studies; (ii) duplicated studies; (iii) incomplete or inconsistent data. Quality assessment was conducted with Newcastle-Ottawa Scale criteria or Cochrane Collaboration. Data of live birth, abortion, birth weight, fetal growth restriction (FGR), and adverse events were extracted and synthesized.

RESULTS

Six eligible studies (4 observational studies and 2 RCTs) with 321 patients receiving fondaparinux and 546 patients receiving LMWH were enrolled. Live birth (relative risks (RR) = 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.97 ∼ 1.14, P = 0.217), abortion (RR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.50 ∼ 1.08, P = 0.113), birth weight (weighted mean difference = 167.20, 95% CI = -236.89 ∼ 571.30, P = 0.417), and FGR (RR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.25 ∼ 3.59, P = 0.942) were of no difference between patients receiving fondaparinux and LMWH. Regarding adverse events, the incidence of ecchymosis (RR = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.03 ∼ 0.46, P = 0.002) and skin reaction at injection site (RR = 0.15 95% CI = 0.05 ∼ 0.44, P = 0.001) were lower in patients receiving fondaparinux compared with those receiving LMWH, while that of thrombocytopenia (RR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.09 ∼ 2.14, P = 0.315), vagina bleeding (RR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.62 ∼ 1.71, P = 0.646), and oral mucosa hemorrhage (RR = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.33 ∼ 3.51, P = 0.899) did not vary between these patients receiving these two treatments. However, most studies were conducted in China, which could induce regional and ethnic bias.

CONCLUSION

Fondaparinux is attributable to fewer adverse events and similar pregnancy outcomes compared with LMWH in patients with recurrent miscarriage.

Recurrent Gestational Thrombocytopenia Affecting Four Consecutive Pregnancies: A Case Report

Gestational thrombocytopenia is the commonest cause of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy, accounting for 70-80% of cases. It is a benign condition that recovers completely in the postpartum period. Although the cause is not fully understood, it is thought that pregnancy-related hemodilution and increased platelet consumption play a significant contributory role. Several life-threatening causes of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy make up the remaining 20-30% of cases. There are reports of recurrence of GT in women, but not many case reports document more than three consecutive episodes. We present a case of a young woman who had gestational thrombocytopenia during the third trimester of her four consecutive pregnancies, followed by complete recovery after each pregnancy. We ruled out other sinister and life-threatening causes of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy. During her four consecutive pregnancies, her platelet count fell below normal at the beginning of the third trimester, with a nadir towards the end. The other hematological indices, generally used as markers of hemodilution, remained in the normal pregnancy-specific reference range during each of her four pregnancies. This case argues against pregnancy-related hemodilution being a major factor in gestational thrombocytopenia. A systematic approach is paramount when differentiating the several causes of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy.