Thrombocytopenia in pregnancy

Abstract

Background: Thrombocytopenia in pregnancy is defined as platelet count of less than 150,000/µl. It may be inherited or idiopathic, acute or chronic in onset, either primary or associated with other disorders. Gestational thrombocytopenia is the most common type which is diagnosed usually in the last trimester. When there is severe thrombocytopenia, it is usually pathological in origin. The goal of this study was to identify thrombocytopenia in early stages of pregnancy and evaluate the risk factors involved. Aim was the evaluation of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of a tertiary care centre from 1^st January 2020 to 31^st December 2020. Data was collected and analyzed by SPSS version 17.

Results: In the current study, 71.1% of cases were mild thrombocytopenia and 64.4% were picked up in the third trimester. Out of the 90 cases taken, 64% of the cases were due to the most common cause i.e., gestational thrombocytopenia. The second most common cause of thrombocytopenia was pregnancy induced hypertension which accounted for 18% of the total number of cases. Symptomatic thrombocytopenia of moderate and severe degree was seen in cases of PIH and ITP. 37.5% of the cases had underlying hypertension.

Conclusions: Timely identification and management of the cause of thrombocytopenia is crucial in the antenatal group of women. Although it is an incidental finding in most cases, when there is an underlying cause, severity of thrombocytopenia increases tremendously and has dire consequences. Every pregnant woman should undergo complete blood count examination once in each trimester to avoid maternal and fetal complications.