Neonatal neutropenia and thrombocytopenia following maternal hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between the subtypes of hypertension in pregnancy and subsequent neonatal haematology.


METHODS
Retrospective review of the haematology of newborns of hypertensive mothers at a tertiary neonatal unit.


RESULTS
Over a 2 year period, 249 infants had full blood examinations. Nineteen (7.6%) were neutropenic and 35 (14.1%) thrombocytopenic, including 11 (4.4%) who were both neutropenic and thrombocytopenic. Neutropenia occurred only in infants whose mothers had severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia or pre-eclampsia with pre-existing hypertension, whereas thrombocytopenia complicated all maternal hypertension subtypes. Two (10%) of the neutropenic infants developed nosocomial infection while seven (20%) of the thrombocytopenic infants bled. Thirteen (68%) of the neutropenic infants compared with 15 (43%) of the thrombocytopenic infants developed their haematological abnormality within 24 h of birth. All but two infants developed the haematological abnormality by the 5th day of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Although haematological abnormalities in infants born to hypertensive mothers are uncommon, serious neonatal complications can occur and therefore early haematological screening of these infants is recommended.
Fraser
S H
SH
Department of Neonatology, Mater Misericordiae Public Hospitals, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Tudehope
D I
DI
D004461:Eclampsia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*