Thrombocytopenia in Pregnancy: Unmasking the Burden of Hypertensive Disorders

A retrospective observational study conducted at Gandhi Hospital involving 200 pregnant women with thrombocytopenia sheds critical light on the spectrum of etiologies and associated fetomaternal outcomes. The investigation identifies pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) as the leading cause of thrombocytopenia, accounting for 44% (88 cases) of all cases, followed by gestational thrombocytopenia, which presented with relatively benign clinical consequences.

A notable finding was the significantly higher incidence of placental abruption among women with PIH, particularly those diagnosed with HELLP syndrome (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelets). These hypertensive disorders were also linked with an increased risk of preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD)underlining the importance of vigilant antenatal surveillance.In contrast, gestational thrombocytopenia, typically diagnosed incidentally, demonstrated favorable maternal and neonatal outcomes, with minimal complications and a low risk of disease progression.

These findings reinforce the need for early identification and stratification of thrombocytopenia during pregnancy to differentiate between benign and pathological causes, enabling timely intervention and improved perinatal outcomes.

Source: Shah, S., Sravanthi, K., Omini, K., &Mitra, M. (2025). Clinical profile and outcome of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy. Indian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research, 12(1), 103–108. https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijogr.2025.019