Treatment of essential thrombocythemia during pregnancy with interferon-alpha.
BACKGROUND
Only a few cases of essential thrombocythemia in pregnant women have been reported, and the management of this myeloproliferative disorder during pregnancy remains uncertain. We report a successful pregnancy in a patient who had essential thrombocythemia and who was treated with interferon-alpha, and we review the literature for the outcome of similar patients.


METHODS
A 32-year-old woman, gravida 4, para 3, aborta 0, presented at 18 weeks' gestation with two episodes of amaurosis fugax and an elevated platelet count of 2300 x 10(9)/L. The initiation of interferon-alpha led to a progressive fall of the platelet level, with no occurrence of thrombotic or hemorrhagic manifestations. Serial ultrasound examinations revealed normal fetal and placental development. The patient was delivered of a male infant at 37 weeks. Both child and placenta were normal on examination.


CONCLUSIONS
Our case and the current available data suggest that interferon-alpha may be the best therapeutic option for pregnant patients with essential thrombocythemia in whom myelosuppression is required.
Delage
R
R
Saint-Sacrement Hospital, Laval University, Quebec, Canada.
Demers
C
C
Cantin
G
G
Roy
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D013920:Thrombocythemia, Essential / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin