MATERNAL PLATELET COUNT AT DELIVERY IN PATIENTS WITH IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA, NOT RELATED TO PERIOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS

BACKGROUND: The relationship between maternal platelet count at the ti me of cesarean section and perioperative and postpartum operative comp lications was examined. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of 46 p regnancies in 41 women with histories of idiopathic thrombocytopenic p urpura was performed. Thirty-five patients had platelet counts greater than 100,000 before delivery and 11 had counts less than 100,000. Sta tistical comparisons were made using Student's t test and chi-square t est. RESULTS: The perioperative and postpartum course for patients in the two groups differed significantly only in platelet counts at deliv ery. Change in hematocrit (from admission to postpartum), estimated bl ood loss at cesarean section, incidence of wound complications or tran sfusion, were not significantly different. There were no neonatal comp lications. CONCLUSIONS: Mild thrombocytopenia in patients with idiopat hic thrombocytopenic purpura is unlikely to be associated with an incr ease in blood loss, infection, wound complication, or need for transfu sion.