Platelet counts during normal pregnancy. Mean platelet counts decreased during pregnancy in all the women, beginning in the first trimester. take care! Normal Platelet Value Range Negative Pregnancy Adult: 165 to 415X103/mm3X103/l or 165 to 415X109/L Pregnancy Trimester One: 174 to 391X103/mm3X103/l or 174 to 391X109/L There are two main types of thrombocytosis: essential thrombocythemia and reactive thrombocytosis. The mean platelet count at the time of delivery was higher in non-Hispanic black women than in non-Hispanic white women and Hispanic women (P<0.001) and was higher in younger women (15 to 19 years of age) than in older women (20 to 44 years of age) (P<0.001). Platelet Counts during Pregnancy and in Nonpregnant Women.*. Short-term stress is associated with changes in platelet function. Belfort MA. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. In 764 women (29.5%), multiple complications (two to four) occurred. Your provider will keep an eye on your blood pressure and other vital signs to catch problems like HELLP early. In most cases, this is not something to worry about as it tends to resolve on its own a few weeks after birth. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Significance of plasma skimming and plasma volume expansion. The characteristics of these women are provided in Table S1 in the Supplementary Appendix, available with the full text of this article at NEJM.org. 2012;4(6):415-23. doi:10.4021/jocmr1125w, Brire JB. The differences in the mean platelet count in the subgroups of women with uncomplicated pregnancies, which were defined according to race or ethnic group and age,14 were preserved throughout pregnancy, which also suggests that the platelet counts of all the women decreased at the same rate. Annals of Pharmacotherapy. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, Causes of Brown and Yellow Vaginal Discharge, The Female Patient: Hereditary Thrombophilia and Thrombocythemia in Pregnancy, Rose SR, Petersen NJ, Gardner TJ, Hamill RJ, Trautner BW. If you experience signs of HELLP syndrome, get care right away. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. The mean and median platelet count values for each of the three distribution curves differed by less than 3%. Up to 1 in 5 women who have HELLP syndrome experience it a second time. Very low platelet counts can cause bleeding. Mogos MF, Salemi JL, Spooner KK, McFarlin BL, Salihu HH. Sainio S, Kekomki R, Riikonen S, Teramo K. Maternal thrombocytopenia at term: a population-based study. Yes. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: sample design, 20072010. Abruption usually requires immediate delivery or severe maternal and fetal hemorrhage can occur. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Use of multiple inflammatory marker tests in primary care: using clinical practice research datalink to evaluate accuracy, Etiology of thrombocytosis in a general medicine population: analysis of 801 cases with emphasis on infectious causes, Effects of physical (in)activity on platelet function, Stress enhances proinflammatory platelet activity: the impact of acute and chronic mental stress, Pathophysiology, classification, and complications of common asymptomatic thrombocytosis in newborn infants, Clinical course and short-term outcome of postsplenectomy reactive thrombocytosis in children without myeloproliferative disorders: A single institutional experience from a developing country, A review and assessment of drug-induced thrombocytosis, Cancer incidence following a high-normal platelet count: cohort study using electronic healthcare records from English primary care, Platelet gene expression and function in patients with COVID-19, Iron panel to show how much iron is present, Blood testing to check for specific gene mutations, Short-term conditions, such as an infection or inflammation. Managing HELLP syndrome may include taking medications to lower your blood pressure and prevent seizures. Blood loss, a lack of dietary iron, pregnancy, and intestinal diseases that affect the absorption . Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. High platelets is a condition in which the blood contains more platelets than usual. Newly made platelets are larger than older platelets, so a high number may signal that your bone marrow's making a lot of new platelets. This can increase the risk of blood clots. This is thought to do with the release of epinephrine, or adrenaline. Other high blood pressure disorders during pregnancy. All the analyses were performed with the use of SAS software, version 9.4 (SAS Institute). Taking certain medications is associated with high platelet counts, which is referred to as drug-induced thrombocytosis. Besides taking your medical history, examining you physically and running tests, your doctor might ask about factors that could affect your platelets, such as a recent surgery, a blood transfusion or an infection. Because the placental circulation is similar to splenic circulation,19 platelets may also accumulate within the intervillous space of the placenta. Cines DB, Levine LD. Every woman's platelet count falls 15 to 20 percent over the course of pregnancy. Platelet counts of less than 150,000 per cubic millimeter during uncomplicated pregnancies are described as gestational thrombocytopenia if no alternative cause is identified. To search for potential alternative causes of platelet counts less than 80,000 per cubic millimeter in women who had uncomplicated pregnancies, we reviewed the womans entire set of medical records from Oklahoma University Medical Center. Platelet counts of less than 150,000 per cubic millimeter at the time of delivery were more common among women who had pregnancy-related complications than among women who had uncomplicated pregnancies (11.9% vs. 9.9%, P = 0.01). Placenta accreta. This website is owned by Danone Specialised Nutrition Singapore Pte Ltd. We use cookies to enable a better user experience. Thrombocytopenia is a relatively common occurrence in people with sepsis, occurring in around 5-20% . Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 05/12/2021. In some cases, if there are no symptoms, no treatment may be required. However, the exact threshold for determining whether a high WBC count indicates leukaemia during pregnancy can vary depending on the individual case and the specific type of leukaemia. Unless DIC is present, the. However, certain serious conditions, such as HELLP syndrome and preeclampsia, can cause very low platelet counts. Multiple physiological changes during pregnancy may contribute to lower platelet counts. This severe form of preeclampsia affects . 2013;19(6):124. doi:10.1097/MIB.0b013e318281f3df, Geara A, El-imad B, Baz W, Odaimi M, El-sayegh S. Pseudoleukocytosis secondary to hepatitis C-associated cryoglobulinemia: a case report. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. In most cases, you will not need any treatment for platelet disorders during pregnancy. Gestational thrombocytopenia is far and away the most common cause of low platelets in pregnancy, accounting for 75 to 80 percent of cases. History of HELLP syndrome in a previous pregnancy. A high platelet count can indicate an underlying condition. Learn how we can help Answered Jan 09, 2022 Thank 1 thank Dr. Silviu Pasniciuc answered A total of 59 women (2.3%) had platelet counts below 100,000 per cubic millimeter and 31 women had platelet counts below 80,000 per cubic millimeter during pregnancy, at the time of delivery, or both, which represented a higher incidence of low platelet counts than the incidence among women who had uncomplicated pregnancies (P<0.001). If platelet levels are too high, it may be necessary to take anti-clotting medications until the fetus is safely delivered. Examples include: Research has found that urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, and gastrointenstinal infections are among the leading causes of a high platelet count. 171: management of preterm labor. Primary thrombocytosis in children. To determine whether platelet counts changed significantly during gestation, whether they differed significantly among races or ethnic groups or age groups, and whether the rate of decrease during pregnancy differed significantly between women who had uncomplicated pregnancies and women who had pregnancy-related complications or preexisting disorders, we constructed linear mixed models to account for women who had repeated platelet count measurements. 155 - 409. ), and the MaternalFetal Medicine Section, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine (D.R.D., J.J.M., E.J.K. If you have HELLP syndrome, you may need to deliver your baby early. 2-4 However, counts < 100 10 9 /L, which is the definition for thrombocytopenia adopted by an International Working Group, 5 are observed in only 1% of pregnant women. This results in increased blood volume and causes hemodilution. Gestational Thrombocytopenia: What Should You Know About Low Blood Platelets? During the course of the uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries, only 45 women (1.0%) had a platelet count below 100,000 per cubic millimeter. However, this is temporary, with platelet counts tending to return to normal quickly. 10.3389/fmed.2023.1111139 Frontiers in Medicine 02 frontiersin.org 1. J Med Case Rep. 2009;3:91. doi:10.1186/1752-1947-3-91. There are many types of anemia, a condition in which your blood doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells. Live Chat with us, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. It is a type of preeclampsia. Burrows RF, Kelton JG. What does it mean if your MPV blood test results are high? The mean platelet count in the 8885 nonpregnant women is designated by N on the x axis. While some stress is unavoidable during pregnancy, avoiding high-stress situations or learning to manage your stress is a good idea. Long-term stress is associated with a high platelet count. Assuming that platelet counts measured in the women during the postpartum period were similar to their platelet counts before pregnancy, mean platelet counts decreased by an estimated 17% during pregnancy. Placental abruption, where the placenta separates prematurely from the uterine wall, is also a possible complication of thrombocytosis, according to the Mayo Clinic. Up to 1 in 5 women who have preeclampsia or eclampsia develop HELLP syndrome. Having a high platelet count, or thrombocytosis, doesn't always indicate something serious is going on. The lower platelet counts observed in the women with twin pregnancies than in the women with singleton pregnancies could have been related to the larger placental size or the presence of two placentas, each of which is characteristic of twin pregnancies.20. S2C in the Supplementary Appendix), we found that platelet counts of less than 150,000 per cubic millimeter occurred in 39 women (19.8%) at the time of delivery (Table 2); 17 women (8.6%) had platelet counts of less than 80,000 per cubic millimeter (median, 48,000; range, 4000 to 77,000). This decreased blood flow can cause symptoms including: If you have a high platelet count and are worried about the risk of developing blood clots, talk to your healthcare provider. It is a type of preeclampsia that causes elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count. Receive automatic alerts about NHLBI related news and highlights from across the Institute. Among the 246 women with uncomplicated pregnancies who were assessed during the postpartum period, the mean platelet count was 17% lower at the time of delivery than during the postpartum period (218,000 vs. 264,000 per cubic millimeter). Beginning in 1993, three large studies documented that 5 to 10% of women who had uncomplicated pregnancies had a platelet count of less than 150,000 per cubic millimeter at the time of delivery,13 which was described as gestational thrombocytopenia.4 The normal distribution of platelet counts at the time of delivery and the absence of health problems in the mother and infant suggested that gestational thrombocytopenia was the result of lower platelet counts that occur in all women during pregnancy.2,3,5,6 The current thinking is that platelet counts in all women begin to decrease in the mid-second to third trimester and continue to decrease until the time of delivery.4 However, our recent systematic review of published reports that describe platelet counts throughout uncomplicated pregnancies did not provide support for this concept.7 The number of published reports that we were able to identify was few, and their results were inconsistent. 102: management of stillbirth. A total of 59 women with pregnancy-related complications (2.3%) had platelet counts of less than 100,000 per cubic millimeter during pregnancy or at the time of delivery. If you have a high platelet count, taking some birth control pills can raise your risk of blood clots. Pathophysiology, classification, and complications of common asymptomatic thrombocytosis in newborn infants. 2014;124(2):184-7. doi:10.1182/blood-2014-03-562538. We offer women's health services, obstetrics and gynecology throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond. 1, and Table S4A in the Supplementary Appendix). HELLP syndrome is a pregnancy complication. Pregnancy loss occurs frequently in women with essential thrombocytosis, a case history by lead author Gokhan Anil, MD reports in The Female Patient. The majority of high platelet counts are caused by a reactive process, such as infection or inflammation. In other cases, there may be a problem like an infection or anemia. Platelet counts in healthy women and men are genetically determined and exhibit little variation over time.15 Therefore, women whose platelet counts are at the low end of the normal range when they are not pregnant are more likely to have platelet counts that are below the normal range during pregnancy. Br J Gen Pract. Iron pills will replenish the low iron and he. This happens when preeclampsia damages your liver and red blood cells and interferes with blood clotting. In certain cases, increased platelet count can give rise to serious complications as a result of unexplained blood clotting. The Function of Blood Platelets or Thrombocytes, Understanding Your MPV Blood Test Results, Low Platelet Count (Thrombocytopenia) During Cancer Treatment. Women who have preeclampsia or eclampsia (uncontrolled preeclampsia) have a higher risk of HELLP syndrome. Treating the anemia should help return your platelet levels back to normal. official website and that any information you provide is encrypted Pregnancy loss occurs frequently in women with essential thrombocytosis, a case history by lead author Gokhan Anil, MD reports in The Female Patient. It is divided into three stages called trimesters. raised or high platelet count in pregnancy Last reviewed 01/2018 reactive thrombocytosis (RT) may be responsible for more than 85% of cases with thrombocythaemia causes of reactive thrombocythaemia (including inflammation, infection, haemorrhage and iron deficiency) must be excluded before a diagnosis of essential thrombocythaemia (ET) is made . March of Dimes. A very high platelet count can cause blood clots that can block blood flow to your baby. What causes high platelet count in pregnancy? However, having a high platelet count can be associated with cancer. The difference in the mean platelet count between the women who had no missing platelet counts and the 4232 women who had missing platelet counts during one or more trimesters was not significant (P = 0.79). Etiology of thrombocytosis in a general medicine population: analysis of 801 cases with emphasis on infectious causes. Pooling of platelets in the spleen: role in the pathogenesis of hypersplenic thrombocytopenia. We identified 3,039 studies; 46 reporting 30 women with normal pregnancies were included in our analyses. You may also have to see a hematologist, a doctor who specializes in blood disorders. 165 - 415. This can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and other serious complications. doi:10.1007/s11481-020-09945-4, Jeon, GW. Your healthcare team will diagnose a platelet disorder based on your medical history, family history, a physical exam, and test results. Almog B, Shehata F, Aljabri S, Levin I, Shalom-Paz E, Shrim A. Placenta weight percentile curves for singleton and twins deliveries. Clinicians can identify a high platelet count through routine blood tests. These platelet counts were compared with those of nonpregnant women who were included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 through 2012. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0237016, Vo QT, Thompson DF. doi:10.3399/bjgp19X704309. Platelet counts differ by sex, ethnicity, and age in the United States. X 10 9 /L. Fetal intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) complicates approximately four percent of pregnancies in women with essential thrombocytosis, Anil states. Of these women, 4568 had uncomplicated pregnancies, 2586 had pregnancy-related complications, and 197 had preexisting disorders associated with thrombocytopenia. It is common and usually does not cause problems for the mother or baby. Choosing a gynecologist is not an easy decision. High platelet levels during pregnancy are dangerous for both the mother and the child and could cause complications. 1). Platelet counts may be even lower in women with pregnancy-related complications. Ultimately, treatment for HELLP syndrome is delivery. Platelet counts in all women decrease throughout pregnancy, beginning in the first trimester. Dhaliwal G, Cornett PA, Tierney LM. Treatment can help prevent symptoms and pregnancy complications. What are platelets and why are they important? The small difference between the percentage of women with complicated pregnancies who had a platelet count of less than 150,000 per cubic millimeter and the percentage of women with uncomplicated pregnancies who had a platelet count of less than 150,000 per cubic millimeter may be related to our criteria for pregnancy-related complications. Health A-Z . J Clin Med Res. Pregnancy-related complications, such as pre-eclampsia, may also cause thrombocytopenia.4,810 Therefore, it may be hypothesized that platelet counts in women who have pregnancy-related complications are lower than platelet counts in women who have uncomplicated pregnancies. Verywell Health. Other . On rare occasions, primary thrombocytosis can turn into certain types of cancer. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Curtin LR, Mohadjer LK, Dohrmann SM, et al. Treating a high platelet count starts with finding the underlying cause. We included women who had minor complications (e.g., hypertension or diabetes) who would not have been expected to have thrombocytopenia, because our primary aim in the designation of women with uncomplicated pregnancies was to avoid the inclusion of women who had any complications. Platelet counts may be even lower in women with pregnancy-related complications. (Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.). In older children, high platelet counts are usually a result of infection and also resolve once the infection passes. Platelet disorders during pregnancy. High platelet levels caused by primary thrombocytosis, also known as thrombocythemia, can be dangerous in pregnancy and can result in serious maternal and fetal complications. 174 - 391. The interaction between the mean platelet count in the women with uncomplicated pregnancies and the mean platelet count in the women with pregnancy-related complications was significant (P = 0.002), which indicated that the rates of decrease in platelet counts differed. Please refer to our Privacy Policy to change your cookie settings. This is a blood and bone marrow disease. Among all 15,385 women who had singleton pregnancies, 9912 women had uncomplicated pregnancies. 2015;2015:165078. doi:10.1155/2015/165078, Koudouovoh-Tripp P, Hfner K, Egeter J, et al. Women with essential disease have a miscarriage rate of 43 percent, 36 percent in the first 3 months of pregnancy, according to Anil. In some cases, no treatment may be required. For most women with HELLP, symptoms improve within a few days of giving birth. Buckley MF, James JW, Brown DE, et al. Perkins also has extensive experience working in home health with medically fragile pediatric patients. Am Fam Physician. Severe IUGR can lead to intrauterine death. Official websites use .gov If you have thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, you may need treatment for your condition during your pregnancy even if you do not have any symptoms. The combined mean platelet counts from all studies supported the concept . The mean platelet count was 251,000 per cubic millimeter in the first trimester of pregnancy (mean gestation, 8.7 weeks), 230,000 per cubic millimeter in the second trimester (mean gestation, 22.0 weeks), 225,000 per cubic millimeter in the third trimester (mean gestation, 32.1 weeks), 217,000 per cubic millimeter at the time of delivery (mean gestation, 39.0 weeks), and 264,000 per cubic millimeter during the postpartum period (mean time after delivery, 7.1 weeks). Less commonly, when the high platelet count has no apparent underlying condition as a cause, the disorder is called primary thrombocythemia or essential thrombocythemia. What level is a high platelet count during pregnancy? If your platelet disorder is caused only by pregnancy, your platelet count will return to the normal range after your baby is born. This can help prevent serious bleeding during delivery. Short-term, strenuous exercise can cause an increase in platelet count. Platelet counts of less than 80,000 per cubic millimeter for which an alternative cause was not identified occurred in only 5 women (0.1%), none of whom had a platelet count below 62,000 per cubic millimeter. This finding is consistent with the finding in our study that the risk of recurrent gestational thrombocytopenia was 14.2 times as high among women who had had previous gestational thrombocytopenia as among women who had not had previous gestational thrombocytopenia. Preeclampsia leads to high blood pressure (hypertension) and proteinuria (high levels of protein in the urine). However, having a high platelet count can lead to clotting problems and, in some cases, may be associated with serious conditions, like cancer. Pregnancy complications. As a result, your platelet count per microliter of blood goes down. Once the underlying cause resolves or is managed, platelet counts generally return to normal levels. For the analysis of the NHANES data, we used the sampling weights provided by NHANES to account for the complex survey design, which included oversampling of some populations, and to account for cases in which participants either did not respond to the survey or did not complete all aspects of the survey.12,13 To compare the platelet counts of the pregnant women with those of the nonpregnant women from NHANES, we calculated weighted mean platelet counts for all the nonpregnant women overall and also separately for each subgroup of nonpregnant women defined according to race or ethnic group and age. From my understanding, high blood platelets posed a high risk to both mum and fetus. We recorded each womans platelet count, race or ethnic group, and age. Prematurity may lead to other health complications or increased mortality risk. Your healthcare provider may give you medicine to induce labor. Or you may need to deliver with a cesarean birth (C-section). Pregnancy-related complications that were recorded as such were hypertension or diabetes before or during pregnancy, preeclampsia, HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count) syndrome, preterm birth (defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation), stillbirth, and placental abnormalities (e.g., placental abruption, placenta previa, or placenta accreta). NHANES denotes National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Pulmonary edema (fluid buildup in the lungs). Among women who had one of the other three disorders, 1.4 to 6.0% had platelet counts below 80,000 per cubic millimeter (Table S4B in the Supplementary Appendix). Of these women, 4568 had an uncomplicated pregnancy, 2586 had a pregnancy-related complication, and 197 had a pre-existing disorder associated with thrombocytopenia (Fig. 1, and Table S4B in the Supplementary Appendix). If normal, then there is no need to worry. However, the occurrence and severity of thrombocytopenia throughout pregnancy are not defined. P ractice bulletin no. In healthy, nonpregnant adult women, one third of all circulating platelets are transiently pooled within the low flow-rate circulation of the splenic sinusoids; an increased spleen size results in more pooling of the platelets and a lower platelet count.17 Therefore, the 50% increase in spleen size that occurs during pregnancy18 would also contribute to a lower platelet count. In severe cases, your healthcare provider may use an ultrasound or CT scan to check for an enlarged liver or bleeding in your liver. 82 views, 1 likes, 2 loves, 1 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Scottsville Word of Life Assembly: Sunday PM 4/30/23 *We do not own. The mean platelet counts of the 2586 women who had pregnancy-related complications were higher than those of the 4568 women who had uncomplicated pregnancies during the first and second trimester (P<0.001) but were not significantly different during the third trimester (P = 0.38) or at the time of delivery (P = 0.09). on any woman experiencing symptoms during the third trimester of pregnancy. Research suggests: Pre-term infants are often born with high platelet counts. Since your gynae suggested u to go for further tests, pls go ahead, anyways its just a blood check and it will give u piece of mind. Douglas A. Nelson, MD, is double board-certified in medical oncology and hematology. The normal range for WBC count during pregnancy is between 5,000 and 15,000 cells/mcL (microliter) of blood. Throughout their pregnancies and deliveries, 59 women (2.3%) with pregnancy-related complications had a platelet count below 100,000 per cubic millimeter, and 31 (1.2%) had a platelet count below 80,000 per cubic millimeter. HELLP syndrome is very rare that occurs in 0.1% to 1% of pregnancies. In addition, thrombocytopenia in women who have preexisting disorders, such as immune thrombocytopenic purpura, may become more severe during pregnancy.4,11 To understand the course of platelet counts throughout pregnancy, we evaluated platelet counts in women who delivered at the Oklahoma University Medical Center between 2011 and 2014. Belly pain, especially in the upper right side. However, in some cases, a low platelet count during pregnancy can indicate a more serious issue such as preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets). These tests may include: A high platelet count may be worrisome if: In general, blood clots tend to be linked to primary thrombocytosis. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Other risk factors for HELLP syndrome include: Women may notice HELLP syndrome symptoms while they are pregnant or shortly after childbirth. Among the 15,723 deliveries that occurred during the study period, 7351 women had sufficient data for our analyses. HELLP syndrome is a rare pregnancy complication. An additional 7 women who had platelet counts of less than 80,000 per cubic millimeter had other causes for their thrombocytopenia. Of these women, 197 (58.3%) had sufficient data for our analyses (Fig. Bethesda, MD 20894, Web Policies . Other disorders can happen, too: . Among the 15,723 deliveries that occurred during our study period, 7351 women had sufficient data for our analyses. Placenta previa: a 22-year analysis. Read More Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Many times, it is linked to a temporary condition or circumstance, such as an infection or recent surgery. 155 - 409. The 255 women who could not be evaluated and were therefore deemed to be ineligible included 141 women who reported illicit-drug use, 113 women who had received treatment with glucocorticoids for an indication other than a pregnancy-related complication or a pre-existing disorder, and 1 woman who had thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Speaking with your healthcare provider about potential health risks. Platelet gene expression and function in patients with COVID-19. Most of the time, your babys platelet count will be within the normal range a few days after birth. In particular, iron-deficiency anemia and hemolytic anemia can lead to a high platelet count. Treatment for elevated platelet levels will vary depending on the underlying cause.