Thrombocytopenia in Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study in Northern Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association of thrombocytopenia (mild, moderate & severe) with pregnancy-related disorders.
 Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
 Place and Duration of Study: Department of Haematology of Pakistan Railway Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, in collaboration with the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Pak Emirates Military Hospital and Fuji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Oct 2018 to Oct 2019.
 Methodology: Seventy-five pregnant females with platelet count <150x109/l were included. Blood samples were taken and analyzed for complete blood count, peripheral blood smear, manual count by Neubauer chamber, uric acid, urinary proteins, liver function tests (bilirubin & aspartate aminotransferase), lactate dehydrogenase, coagulation profile and viral serology (Hepatitis B & C).
 Results: Out of a total of 75 thrombocytopenic pregnant females, gestational thrombocytopenia was most common (74.7%), followed by preeclampsia (17.3%), HELLP syndrome (4%), immune thrombocytopenic purpura (4%) respectively. Mild thrombocytopenia was frequently observed in patients of G.T. (62.5%), while moderate thrombocytopenia (84.6%) was generally detected in preeclampsia patients. Severe thrombocytopenia was mostly identified in patients with HELLP syndrome (66.7%) and immune thrombocytopenic purpura (66.7%).
 Conclusion: Mild thrombocytopenia is mostly presented in gestational thrombocytopenia. Moderate thrombocytopenia was frequent in patients with preeclampsia, and severe thrombocytopenia was usually diagnosed in patients with HELLP syndrome and immune thrombocytopenic purpura, which require apposite and judicious management for the safety of mother and fetus.

Nurses Knowledge regarding Blood transfusion in Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar

“…Moreover, the knowledge regarding the maximum duration a unit of blood can remain outside the fridge before transfusion was correctly identified by 77.18% of respondents as 30 minutes, differing from Encan et al's (2019) study where 60% was recognized, a variance possibly attributed to the differences in educational backgrounds of the nursing staff in each study. In terms of understanding transfusion-related complications, the findings from a study in Iraq by Mohammad (18) showed a mean knowledge score of 1.69±0.467, closely matched by the current study's findings of 1.65±0.479, indicating a moderate level of knowledge on the subject among the nurses surveyed. The study highlighted the moderate level of knowledge among nurses regarding blood transfusion, emphasizing the gap in attending training programs on transfusion practices.…”

“…It pointed out the critical role of administrative support in facilitating such educational initiatives to enhance the safety and efficacy of transfusion services. Despite the limitations of generalizability due to the homogeneous sample and the study's focus on a single hospital, the comprehensive response rate and the absence of funding conflicts present this research as a pivotal step towards understanding and improving blood transfusion practices among nurses (17,18). The study underscores the need for hospital administrations to play a proactive role in assessing and addressing the educational needs of nurses regarding blood transfusion.…”