Thrombocytopaenia in pregnancy: the importance of differential diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2022 Jun;35(12):2414-2416. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2020.1786527. Epub 2020 Jul 8.

Abstract

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, an optimal management of vulnerable patients, such as pregnant women, has been regarded as a challenge for healthcare professionals. Although thrombocytopaenia is considered a minor criterion for admission within an intensive care unit, a low platelet count has been observed in COVID-19 patients, including a pregnant woman, who developed severe pulmonary complications. Furthermore, thrombocytopaenia has been proposed as a potential biomarker in order to identify cases at high-risk complications. Nevertheless, thrombocytopaenia is a relatively frequent condition observed in pregnancy. In this context, a differential diagnosis is essential for the correct management of COVID-19 pregnant women.

Keywords: COVID-19; Pregnancy; SARS; SARS-CoV-2; thrombocytopaenia; thromboembolism.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / diagnosis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Pandemics
  • Pregnancy
  • Thrombocytopenia* / complications
  • Thrombocytopenia* / diagnosis