A rare combination of immune thrombocytopenia and disaggregation thrombocytopathy: course and termination of pregnancy complicated by COVID-19 (Clinical case)

Abstract

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease which is characterized by antibody-mediated destruction of platelets by the reticuloendothelial system. The rate of ITP is 3.3 per 100,000 adults per year with a prevalence of 9.5 per 100,000 adults. Pregnancy does not increase the frequency or severity of ITP, but ITP can significantly affect pregnancy and cause bleeding in women.Pregnancy requires regular control of the number of platelets: monthly in the I and II trimesters, every 2 weeks – in the III trimester, and weekly control near the delivery date. Indications for treatment are determined by the pregnant woman condition, not the fetus, since it has not been proven that the treatment reduces the risks of thrombocytopenia in newborns with the development of cerebral hemorrhage.The drug of the first line of treatment of such pathology is prednisolone at a dose of 1 mg/kg orally once a day. An increase in the number of platelets is usually observed within 3-7 days, the maximum response is determined after 2-3 weeks. If necessary, the dose can be increased. When the required level of platelets is reached, the dose can be gradually reduced by 10-20 % to the minimum dose necessary to maintain the number of platelets at an acceptable level.Thrombocytopathy can be the cause of primary hemostasis disorders, even if the number of platelets in the blood is normal. For diagnosis, tests are carried out to detect the aggregation ability of platelets. In addition, flow cytometry can be used, which makes it possible to detect the defects of surface membrane receptors, as well as defects of the end point of secretion.ITP is a common cause of thrombocytopenia after viral infections. The onset of this pathology is more often detected in the second and third weeks after the onset of COVID-19. The treatment aim is to prevent the significant bleeding in patients with COVID-19.The article presents a clinical case of a pregnant woman with ITP and thrombocytopathy, whose pregnancy was complicated by COVID-19. The patient complained on bleeding gums, the appearance of hematomas on the skin. Medical treatment of the main disease included prednisolone, eltrombopag, intravenous human immunoglobulin, transfusion of platelet concentrate. At 34–35 weeks of pregnancy alive boy was born with a body weight of 2800 g, length of 49 cm, 7–8 points on the Apgar scale.