Effect of betametasone administration on platelet count in thrombocytopenic and normal pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of a course of corticosteroids on platelet count in both thrombocytopenic and normal pregnant women.


METHODS
We retrospectively considered 107 pregnant women at 24-34 weeks gestation, who had received betametasone treatment (12 mg i.m. for two consecutive days) for fetal lung maturation. Platelet count was assayed 3 days before and 3-7 days after the treatment. Patients were divided into three classes according to the severity of thrombocytopenia.


RESULTS
The mean platelet count significantly increased in all classes of patients to an extent that was inversely related to baseline values. The prevalence of non-responders was 56.7% in normal, and 15.0% in thrombocytopenic pregnant women.


CONCLUSIONS
Corticosteroids may have a role in the treatment of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy.
Giannubilo
Stefano Raffaele
SR
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Polytechnic University of Marche, Hospital "G. Salesi" via Corridoni 11, 60123 Ancona, Italy. s.giannubilo@univpm.it
Shkara
Vissam Abu
VA
Tranquilli
Andrea Luigi
AL
D000328:Adult; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010976:Platelet Count; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D001623:Betamethasone