[Hematologic diseases in pregnancy; a danger to mother and child or a calculable risk?]

In 1985 the authors delivered six gravidae who had blood diseases during pregnancy; they included one patient with thalassemia minor, one with Hodgkin's disease, one with Glanzmann's thromboasthenia, one with Von Willebrand-Jürgens syndrome, one with Werlhof's disease and one with HELLP syndrome. The problems which arose were managed in close collaboration with internists and pediatricians and healthy infants were born in all cases. No aggravation of the basic disease was seen in any of the mothers. Cesarean section was necessary in two cases, while vaginal deliveries were accomplished in the other four. The chances of vaginal delivery were improved in particular by prior cervix priming with prostaglandin E2. In summary it may be said that with present-day monitoring and treatment possibilities, blood diseases during pregnancy have become a calculable risk. However, the cost--in terms both of equipment and personnel--must not be underestimated.