Platelet Counts in Infants of Women with Autoimmune Thrombocytopenia

Abstract

THE obstetrical management of women with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ATP) is controversial. Because of transplacental passage of antiplatelet antibody, children of these women are frequently born with low platelet counts, and there is concern that pressure on the head during vaginal delivery may bring about intracranial hemorrhage. For this reason, most authors have advocated that infants of mothers with this disease be delivered by cesarean section.^{1 2 3 4 5} Others have recommended vaginal delivery unless there is some recognized obstetrical indication for section.^{6 , 7} We have examined the effect of administering corticosteroids to the mother before delivery in order to raise the infant's platelet . . .