Assessment of post‐partum haemorrhage risk among women with moderate thrombocytopenia
Sara Arcudi, Alice Ronchi, Marco Capecchi, Enrico Iurlaro, Manuela Wally Ossola, Ilaria Mancini, Gabriella Schivardi, Anna Maria Marconi, Gian Marco Podda, Andrea Artoni
Abstract
Summary It is unknown whether moderate thrombocytopenia represents a risk factor for post‐partum haemorrhage (PPH). We assessed PPH risk among women with a platelet count of between 100 and 50 × 10 9 /l and stratified the risk for O/non‐O blood group. We included consecutive women undergoing vaginal delivery or caesarean section with moderate thrombocytopenia. Women with >150 × 10 9 /l platelets at delivery were selected as controls and matched for age, type of birth and ethnicity. Odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated as risk estimates. A total of 94 thrombocytopenic women and 94 controls were included in the study. The rate of PPH was significantly higher in thrombocytopenic women than in controls (37% vs. 10%, p < 0.001); there was a higher risk of PPH in the thrombocytopenic group when compared to the control group (adjusted OR 4.7, 95% CI 2.1–10.8, p < 0.01) and this association was stronger in blood group O carriers (adjusted OR 11.0, 95% CI 2.4–49.6, p < 0.01). In conclusion, our study shows that a moderate thrombocytopenia is a risk factor for PPH, especially in blood group O carriers.