Spontaneous resolution of pre-eclampsia-related thrombocytopenia.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the spontaneous resolution of pre-eclampsia-related thrombocytopenia.


METHODS
A retrospective study.


METHODS
High Risk Pregnancy Unit, John Radcliffe Maternity Hospital, Oxford.


METHODS
Thirty women with pre-eclampsia complicated by the HELLP/ELLP syndrome who did not receive any specific treatment for their thrombocytopenia.


METHODS
Serial platelet counts throughout labour and the puerperium until the platelet counts returned to levels above 100 x 10(9)/l.


METHODS
Time taken from delivery and platelet nadir for platelet counts to return to levels above 100 x 10(9)/l. The rate of recovery from the platelet nadir was measured by the slope of the serial platelet counts plotted against time.


RESULTS
The mean time until platelet count exceeded 100 x 10(9)/l was 67 h (SD 25) after delivery and 44 h (SD 17) from the platelet nadir. All women had counts above 100 x 10(9)/l by 111 h after delivery, and by 88 h after the platelet nadir. Although the time to recovery appeared to depend on the degree of thrombocytopenia, the rate of resolution did not.


CONCLUSIONS
These data can be used as a guide by clinicians as to the expected time course for postpartum resolution of pre-eclampsia-related thrombocytopenia.
Chandran
R
R
Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Maternity Hospital, UK.
Serra-Serra
V
V
Redman
C W
CW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets; D005260:Female; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D010976:Platelet Count; D011247:Pregnancy; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors