Perinatal management of immune thrombocytopenic purpura--a case report and review of literature.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura is principally a disease of young women. Therefore it may often be associated with pregnancy. It is commonly complicated by abortion, intra-uterine growth retardation and neonatal intracranial haemorrhage so that perinatal mortality may be as high as 20%. Hence perinatal management of immune thrombocytopenic purpura should include maintenance of maternal platelet count and regular monitoring of foetal growth along with prediction and prevention of foetal passive immune thrombocytopenia. Determination of foetal platelet count in certain situations may help in concomitant selection of delivery mode. The following case report emphasises the importance of diagnosing this condition at peripheral healthcare level so that perinatal outcome can be markedly improved.