Abrupt reversal of gestational autoimmune thrombocytopenia after delivery. A case report

Autoimmune thrombocytopenia purpura frequently is first noted during pregnancy. The severity of the disorder varies, but when the patient presents with active bleeding from any site, therapy is mandatory. Treatment generally consists of corticosteroids and/or splenectomy. A woman developed severe autoimmune thrombocytopenia purpura during pregnancy that proved refractory to corticosteroids and splenectomy. Six days after delivery her platelet count returned to normal. The etiology of autoimmune thrombocytopenia purpura remains unknown, but this experience suggests that in this patient the thrombocytopenia was related to her pregnancy.