Prevalence and etiological classification of thrombocytopenia among a group of pregnant women in Erbil City, Iraq.

OBJECTIVE

To determine prevalence and define causes of pregnancy associated thrombocytopenia

METHODS

A total of 850 pregnant women at different ages of gestation were screened for ‎thrombocytopenia. A control group of 150 age-matched nonpregnant women were tested for ‎platelet count. Neoborns of thrombocytopenic women were tested within 24 hours of ‎delivery and reassessment of women's platelets was done within 7-10 days post delivery. ‎

RESULTS

The mean platelet count in pregnant women was significantly lower than in nonpregnant ‎women (221±59.9 vs. 273±66.9). Thrombocytopenia affected 8% of cases, with peak ‎incidence during the third trimester. Gestational thrombocytopenia was found to be the ‎principal cause (73.8%); hypertensive disorders caused thrombocytopenia in 23% of cases ‎and two cases (4%) were due to immune thrombocytopenic purpura. No maternal or fetal ‎complications were noted. The mean platelet count of 51 neoborns of thrombocytopenic ‎women was (240 ± 7.1). Two neoborns (4%) had low platelet counts.‎

CONCLUSION

Majority of thrombocytopenias were mild gestational and occurred in late in pregnancy. No ‎maternal or neonatal bleeding complications were observed.