Although most cases of mild-to-moderate maternal disease are caused by gestational thrombocytopenia and rarely cause problems, the OB is obliged to rule out more serious causes. And for far-less-common fetal disease, these experts help you differentiate the potentially life-threatening fetal alloimmune thrombocytopenia from a benign drop in platelet count.
At first, it seems like a routine delivery. You deliver what appears to be a perfectly healthy newborn, after a patient's uneventful pregnancy. But there's no way to predict severe fetal thrombocytopenia. During pregnancy-particularly a first pregnancy-there are not always advance warnings like the ecchymoses that develop after a birth and the newborn's ominously low platelet count. Suddenly, spontaneous intracranial bleeding is putting the infant at risk for brain damage or even death. What do you do when an aggressive approach is called for?
The good news is that gestational thrombocytopenia, found in roughly 5% of pregnancies (and usually beginning in the third trimester), doesn't typically cause maternal, fetal, or neonatal complications.1,2 Although the lower limit of normal platelet counts in pregnancy is considered to be 106 to 120×103/μL, it's well recognized that platelet counts can drop much lower, typically not below 70×103/μL. Gestational thrombocytopenia is mild, asymptomatic, and has only been linked to a history of thrombocytopenia in a previous pregnancy (recurrence risk is 18%). Routine obstetric management for the patient and fetus/newborn is recommended around the time of delivery, after which the disease resolves spontaneously.3 But a red flag should go up if a patient doesn't have these benign features. Then you must lose no time in aggressively seeking out other causes.
Unlocking HPV prevention: Insights from 2022 data on vaccination trends
May 14th 2024Explore the latest findings revealing vaccination rates among children aged 9 to 17 years, uncovering demographic disparities and highlighting the crucial role of vaccination in combating human papillomavirus infections and related health risks.
Read More
Prenatal cannabis and nicotine use linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes
May 14th 2024A recent study highlights the heightened risks of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality associated with combined cannabis and nicotine use during pregnancy, urging further investigation into their impact on short- and long-term outcomes.
Read More
Understanding pediatric STIs: Trends, management, and more
May 10th 2024Dive into the rising prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among adolescents and young adults, exploring educational gaps, vaccination rates, and the imperative need for open conversations between patients and health care providers to combat stigma and enhance preventive care.
Read More
No link found between antenatal corticosteroids and child neurodevelopment
April 25th 2024A recent study found no link between antenatal corticosteroid administration and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in children aged 6 years or older, offering reassurance for late preterm delivery practices.
Read More