Thrombocytopenia in Pregnancy: Identification and Management at a Reference Center in Pakistan

The study aimed to evaluate the causes of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy and its management along with the outcome in the COVID-19 era.

Recruitment for this prospective, cross-sectional observational study of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy (platelet counts <100x10⁹/L) was done from January 2017 to August 2020 at the National Institute of Blood Diseases (NIBD) after taking the patients' informed consent. Complete clinical and lab profile of patients was also collected.

A total of 150 pregnant women with thrombocytopenia were enrolled, with the mean age being 27.3±4.64 years. Mean platelet counts at baseline were 48.0±24. Main clinical manifestations at baseline included: anemia 65.9%, bruises 23.25%, and edema 9.3%. Causes of thrombocytopenia were gestational thrombocytopenia (GT) 72 (48%), acute fatty liver five (3.3%), pre-eclampsia in 11 (7.3%), and eclampsia seven (4.6%). Causes not specific to pregnancy included 30 (20%) cases of ITP, hepatitis C, and nutritional deficiency was reported in nine (6%) patients each. 72/150 received supportive care treatment to manage thrombocytopenia and were closely monitored and given supplements. Twenty (66.6%) ITP patients received treatment with steroids, with complete response in 70% of them seen. Overall, 38 (25.3%) women with bleeding symptoms and platelet count <50x10⁹/L received platelet transfusions.

The study shows that pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are serious conditions with a high risk for complications, while GT is a benign and the most common cause of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy which requires no active treatment. The other causes such as ITP and infections require individualized management.