Pregnancy-induced hypertension presenting with life-threatening thrombocytopenia.

Three cases of pregnancy-induced hypertension in which patients presented with platelet counts of less than 20,000/mm3 are reported. None of the patients had severe hypertension. The need for an immediate platelet count for any gravid patient with suspected pregnancy-induced hypertension is emphasized. Management of patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension and thrombocytopenia is reviewed. Prompt delivery appears to be necessary because no other therapy reverses this disease process. Patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension and thrombocytopenia should be classified as having "severe preeclampsia" irrespective of other signs or symptoms of "severe preeclampsia."