• See Also
  1. Thrombocytopenia
  • Epidemiology
  1. Most common cause of Thrombocytopenia in pregnancy
  2. Incidence: 8% of pregnant women
  • Pathophysiology
  1. Increased Platelet clearance
  2. Hemodilution
  • Labs
  1. Complete Blood Count
  2. Platelet Count
    1. Mild isolated Thrombocytopenia
  3. Peripheral Blood Smear
  • Evaluation
  1. No additional evaluation required if
    1. Platelet Count >115,000 per uL and
    2. No signs of Preeclampsia or HELLP Syndrome
  2. Discuss lower Platelet Counts with hematology or maternal fetal medicine
  3. Obtain Platelet Count in newborns if maternal Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura is suspected
  • Differential Diagnosis
  1. See Thrombocytopenia
  2. Preeclampsia with HELLP Syndrome
  3. Immune Throbocytopenic Purpura
  • Course
  1. Resolves spontaenously after delivery
  • Prognosis
  1. Benign condition with no associated increased morbidity or mortality in pregnant women or newborns
  • References
  1. Gauer (2012) Am Fam Physician 85(6): 612-22 [PubMed]
  2. Ruggeri (1997) Haematologica 82(3): 341-2 [PubMed]