title: Acquired thrombophilia in pregnancy: essential thrombocythemia.
abstract: The management of pregnant patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a difficult problem. The clinical course of ET is mainly determined by thromboembolic complications. Pregnancy itself is a physiological hypercoagulable state. When ET affects women during pregnancy, an adverse outcome caused by thrombotic complications is a matter of concern. We reviewed 155 pregnancies in 86 women with ET. The success rate (baby alive) was 59%. First-trimester abortion was the most frequent complication and occurred in 31% of pregnancies. Placental infarction caused by thrombosis seemed to be the most consistent pathologic event. Maternal thrombotic or hemorrhagic complications were rare but were more common than those seen in normal pregnancy. Pregnancy itself does not appear to affect adversely the natural course and prognosis of ET. A meta-analysis revealed a significant benefit for aspirin in comparison to no treatment. If cytoreductive therapy becomes necessary, interferon alpha appears to be the drug of choice. The value of heparin prophylaxis has not been established but may have a role in selected cases.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory on Hemostasis, Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Hemostaseology, University of Ulm, Germany. martin.griesshammer@medizin.uni-ulm.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Griesshammer
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grünewald
authors.forename: Jan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Michiels
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D013920:Thrombocythemia, Essential / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors