Essential Thrombocythemia During Pregnancy

Essential thrombocythemia is a myeloproliferative disorder characterized by a persistent increase in the platelet count. The disease occurs more often in late middle age, but reports confirm the possibility of earlier occurrence. When the disease affects women during pregnancy, an adverse pregnancy outcome is possible: abortion, intrauterine fetal death, abruptio placentae, intrauterine growth retardation, and premature delivery. The possibility of thrombosis formation in this disease encouraged many physicians to use various treatments aimed at lowering the platelet count. Treatments used during pregnancy include acetylsalicylic acid, dipyridamole, heparin, and plateletpheresis. This article describes pregnancy outcomes and reviews the suggested treatments.