Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Immune thrombocytopenia

- Affects 1-2:10,000 pregnancies

- Auto-antibodies against platelet surface antigens cause platelet destruction by the reticulo-endothelial system


- Diagnosis is one of exclusion after other causes of thrombocytopaenia have been rulled out. 

- Specialised labs may measure anti-platelet antibodies

- Assay for anti-platelet antibodies not widely available and not useful in assessing disease severity 

- Course of disease not affected by pregnancy

- IgG may cross the placenta and cause fetal thrombocytopaenia - fetal risks are, however, small

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