DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF FETAL THROMBOCYTOPENIA

Platelet counts remain stable during intrauterine life (245 +/- 65 x 1 0(9)/litre, mean +/- SD). Before diagnosing thrombocytopenia (< 150 x 10(9)/litre), a foetal blood sample must be checked for contamination with amniotic fluid, since even slight contamination can activate coag ulation and lead to a false positive result. In this paper, we review the major causes of thrombocytopenia and discuss their pathogenesis an d management. Foetal thrombocytopenia can be caused by maternal compli cations (immune thrombocytopenic purpura, neonatal alloimmune thromboc ytopenia, gestational thrombocytopenia, preeclampsia, alloimmune haemo lytic disease) or infectious diseases (toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, rubella) or be of true foetal origin (chromosomal abnormalities, malf ormations, congenital thrombocytopenia, intrauterine growth retardatio n).