[Epidural analgesia in a pregnant woman with essential thrombocythaemia]

Abstract

Epidural analgesia is often considered as risk of epidural haematoma in patient with essential thrombocythaemia because of the platelet disorder. In this observation, uncomplicated epidural analgesia was performed in a pregnant woman with asymptomatic essential thrombocythaemia, because the absence of bleeding symptoms was associated with normal thrombo-elastography and time of occlusion by PFA-100 suggesting normal platelet function. PFA-100 is a biological test evaluating platelet function in whole blood, which is easy and quick to perform. This case study suggests that this test might be useful in evaluating platelet function in obstetrics but must be validated before recommending its extensive use.