Neonatal neutropenia and thrombocytopenia following maternal hypertension |
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Authors: | SH FRASER DI TUDEHOPE |
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Affiliation: | Department of Neonatology, Mater Misericordiae Public Hospitals, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
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Abstract: | Objective : To assess the relationship between the subtypes of hypertension in pregnancy and subsequent neonatal haematology. Methodology : Retrospective review of the haematology of newborns of hypertensive mothers at a tertiary neonatal unit Results : Over a 2 year period. 249 infants had full blood examinations. Nineteen (7.6%) were neutropenic and 35 (14.1%) thrombocytopenic, including 11 (4.4%) who were both neutropenic and thrombocytopenic. Neutropenia occurred only in infants whose mothers had severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia or pre-eclampsia with pre-existing hypertension, whereas thrombocytopenia complicated all maternal hypertension subtypes. Two (10%) of the neutropenic infants developed nosocomial infection while seven (20%) of the thrombocytopenic infants bled. Thirteen (68%) of the neutropenic infants compared with 15 (43%) of the thrombocytopenic infants developed their haematological abnormality within 24 h of birth. All but two infants developed the haematological abnormality by the 5th day of life. Conclusions : Although haematological abnormalities in infants born to hypertensive mothers are uncommon, serious neonatal complications can occur and therefore early haematological screening of these infants is recommended. |
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Keywords: | hypertension infant neutropenia newborn pregnancy thrombocytopenia |
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