Interferon-alpha 2a treatment in a pregnant woman with essential thrombocythemia [letter]

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a disease of middle and old age; however, during the last few years the expanding use of automated blood cell counters has shown an increased frequency of the fortuitous diagnosis among younger people. Furthermore, severe complications have been described even in these patients.’ Concerning pregnancy in patients with ET, there are literature data that underline a high rate of fetal morbidity and mortality probably by means of placental i n fa r~ t ion ,~ .~ but few normal pregnancies are also r e p ~ r t e d . ~ . ~ Treatment during pregnancy has not been established yet. Aspirin therapy might have a role even if it cames an increased hemorrhagic risk! Plateletpheresis has been employed with efficacy but its use is limited because ofdifficult long-