title: Pregnancy-induced hypertension presenting with life-threatening thrombocytopenia.
abstract: 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."
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002585:Cesarean Section; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010949:Plasma; D010976:Platelet Count; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents