Objective: Maternal thrombocytopenia during pregnancy may occur due to several possible etiologies, with potential neonatal impact. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether there is a correlation between maternal and neonatal platelet count among women with thrombocytopenia during pregnancy.
Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study (2012-2019) was conducted at a tertiary medical center. Complete blood count was routinely measured in all patients on admission to the delivery ward. Thrombocytopenia was defined as a platelet count below 150 K/μL. Clinical and outcome parameters of thrombocytopenic mothers and their newborns were collected from the electronic files and analyzed by severity of maternal thrombocytopenia.
Results: Of 45 385 women with a documented platelet count at admission, 2841 (6.24%) had thrombocytopenia: 2623 (5.7%) mild (100-149 K/μL), 207 (0.45%) moderate (50-99 K/μL), and 11 (0.02%) severe (<50 K/μL). Eight newborns had thrombocytopenia; corresponding rates by severity of maternal thrombocytopenia were 0.11%, 1.43%, and 18.18% (P = 0.04). None of the thrombocytopenic neonates had an intraventricular hemorrhage or other bleeding complications. The correlation between maternal and neonatal platelet counts was weak (Pearson r = 0.038; P = 0.046).
Conclusion: We suggest that although the chances of neonatal thrombocytopenia are higher with worsening maternal thrombocytopenia, actual occurrence is rare, and the correlation is poor. Therefore, maternal thrombocytopenia cannot be regarded as a significant risk factor for neonatal thrombocytopenia. Neonatal platelet count should be obtained when maternal thrombocytopenia is autoimmune or less than 100 K/μL.
Keywords: maternal thrombocytopenia; neonatal thrombocytopenia; pregnancy.
© 2023 The Authors. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.