Pregnancy in a patient of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia with antiplatelet antibodies

Abstract

Glanzmann's thrombasthenia is an autosomal recessive, inherited platelet function disorder. There is an absence of glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa on the platelet membrane which causes reduced platelet aggregation with a defective platelet haemostatic plug formation. The management of bleeding episodes in these patients with platelet transfusions may result in alloimmunization and make the successive transfusions less effective. Pregnancy and delivery is rare in these patients and is associated with a high risk of severe haemorrhage. We describe a primigravida with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia and alloimmunization who developed secondary postpartum haemorrhage and was successfully treated with oral prednisolone.