title: Primary thrombocythemia and pregnancy: treatment and outcome in fifteen cases.
abstract: Pregnancy in patients with primary thrombocythemia (PT) is reported to be often complicated by recurrent abortion and fetal growth retardation. Fifteen pregnancies in nine patients with PT are reported. Nine pregnancies had a good outcome, with the birth of a healthy infant. There were two spontaneous abortions and three intrauterine deaths. One pregnancy was electively terminated after extensive thrombosis in the splanchnic district requiring surgical entero-resection. In five pregnancies the mother received no treatment; in ten pregnancies acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) was prescribed to the mother as soon as she was found pregnant, subcutaneous heparin was added from the middle trimester in seven cases. In patients treated with ASA and subcutaneous heparin pregnancies had a good outcome. Administration of ASA and heparin during pregnancy appears to improve the outcome in patients with PT and can prevent severe maternal complications, but requires close monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Servizio Trasfusionale e Laboratorio di Ematologia, Ospedale Luigi Sacco, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pagliaro
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arrigoni
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Muggiasca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poggio
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006454:Hemoglobins; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010976:Platelet Count; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D017293:Protein S / Q000378:metabolism; D013922:Thrombocytosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D006454:Hemoglobins; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D017293:Protein S; D005340:Fibrinogen; D006493:Heparin; D001241:Aspirin