Assessment and management of immune thrombocytopenia in pregnancy and in neonates.

Correspondence to: Dr D L Cohen, Department of Paediatrics, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ. The use of electronic cell counters has led to the recognition that pregnancy is frequently associated with thrombocytopenia. As well as disorders that cause thrombocytopenia in the non-pregnant state, a reduction in the circulating platelet count may result from the pregnancy itself, either as an incidental consequence, so-called 'gestational thrombocytopenia', or as a manifestation of pregnancy associated pathology, such as pre-eclampsia. Until recently autoimmune thrombocytopenia (ATP or ITP) was regarded as a common cause of a low platelet count in pregnancy, but it now seems that most mild thrombocytopenias in pregnancy are simply benign gestational thrombocytopenia, with no implications for morbidity in either mother or fetus.' Furthermore, it is now apparent that ITP in pregnancy is associated with considerably