Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura associated with pregnancy

: We examined 14 patients (18 cases) with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) during pregnancy at our department. ITP, which had improved, recurred during pregnancy in 4 cases while it developed for the first time during pregnancy in 10 cases. In the other 4 cases, pregnancy occurred in the course of ITP. Although a normal infant was born in 14 cases, 3 stillbirth and a premature infant was observed in 4 cases. Six deliveries had some toxemia of pregnancy. A transient decrease in neonatal platelets was observed in 4 of 14 cases and mother's platelets count was less than 40 X 10(3)/microliters in the 4 cases. Although antinuclear antibody, Coomb's test and antiphospholipid antibody were positive in some cases, these were not markedly related to clinical course or neonatal platelets count. Eleven cases were treated with glucocorticoids, high dose gamma globulin or platelets transfusion, but 11 cases were not treated. Since ITP is frequently observed during pregnancy and may be some risk factor for pregnancy, treatment of ITP is important during pregnancy.