Prevalence and Etiology of Thrombocytopenia in Pregnant Women in Southern Pakistan

Padma Bai; Irum Memon; Sana Ashfaq; Sadia Sultan; Syed Mohammed Irfan

Padma Bai Department of Gynaecology & Obstetrics, unit III Civil hospital Hyderabad
Irum Memon 2Department of Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad
Sana Ashfaq Department of Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College
Sadia Sultan National Medical Centre, Karachi.
Syed Mohammed Irfan Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi

Keywords: Thrombocytopenia, gestational thrombocytopenia, eclampsia, HELLP syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To determine the causes of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy along with the maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, unit III Civil hospital Hyderabad from September 2013 to March 2014. 87 pregnant women with thrombocytopenia were included in this study. Samples of blood were collected and analyzed for complete blood count, LFT, PT, and APTT.
Results: The mean age of the women was 26.91±5.28 years. We determined the predominant causes of thrombocytopenia as gestational thrombocytopenia (57.5%), followed by eclampsia (16.1%), preeclampsia (16.1%), HELLP syndrome (12.0%), DIC (3.4%) and immune thrombocytopenic purpura (3.3%). Regarding maternal outcome, antepartum bleeding was observed in 16.0% cases, postpartum bleeding was in 41.3% and maternal mortality was observed in 8.0%. The neonatal outcome showed 77.0% delivered full term whereas 22.9% were preterm. Overall 77.1% neonates were alive, 16.0% were IUD and 6.9% were IUGR.
Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia in pregnancy is associated with maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Therefore, we strongly recommend careful surveillance of these thrombocytopenic mothers and their babies in order to establish the aetiology and timely appropriate intervention.