ukadultitpregistry.com

[laney]

hi,

can anyone tell me what is regarded as a safe platelet count??? i think tha there is so much conflicting info, between the us and uk. my platelets are currently at 50 with the lowest they have been at 36. reading some of the american sites is scary!!!!! according to them i should have been on steroids, had my spleen out etc!!

can anyone help


laney xx

[shona]

Hi Laney,

The lowest my platelets went to during pregnancy was 68. They usually want to keep an eye on it and give it a chance. Some haemotologists want to give steroids near the end of your pregnancy and some say infusions (cant remember what its called!)
The UK guidelines recomend you do not have epidural below 70k and no epiostomy below 100k. Speak to your haemotologist about delivery mode as some obtetricians dont know the full facts and get him/her to write to your obs as some procedures should be avoided. good luck

[clare]

Hi laney
I too was very confused throughout my pregnancy. I was diagnosed at 8 weeks with a count of 18. With help from IVIG infusions my count stayed between 30 -60 and nearer to my due date i was given steroids to boost count as close to 100 as they could get so an epidural and c section would be safe.
Best wishes
clare

[Ani]

Hi Laney,

There is more info in previous links about the UK guidelines, which as far as I see are dated as of 2003, but there is an updated document to come soon, I believe...
So depending on the patient, i.e if pregnant or requiring minor/major surgery these are the links giving more info...

http://www.ukitpregistry.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=117

http://www.bcshguidelines.com/pdf/BJH574.pdf

...the relevant bit is on page 4 onwards

Hope it helps somehow
Ani

(during my 2nd pregnancy count below 30 kept everyone alert&ready to give treatment etc, which I was eventually getting at 20, but still managed with normal birth at 55 (whereas C section is best at <80),.... afterwards, i.e nowadays... anything under 10 would require urgent treatment)

[Rhiannon]

All I know is that when my platelet count is five or under I am kept in hospital because whenever I have been kept in they are under 5. They seem to allow me home when they go back up to five.

I haven't had a platelet drop for quite a number of years now though had a little panic on tuesday and persuaded myself and my mum to drive me through and blood test results were very good at 256....so naturally I wasn't kept in.

I think they regard as in their 50's quite good for someone who has ITP. but read somewhere and brain is not hot on remembering stuff fully but I think generally it is quoted that people have between 200 and 400?

I personally think these days that all of us experience ITP. But it can recover on its own so people don't notice a drop in platelets and can have around 50 or so.

My own body on seems to have the outward signs that there is a difficulty as the platelets go down to five. Our bodies are unique and am sure some people may notice signs before then in their bodies. As we are all different. I don't know why my first clear outward signs are when they get as low as five. But at least I know that am fairly safe so long as I report to the hospital and they are very friendly.

I just wish that there was a way of going to the local hospital if just a bit concerned about things so it wouldn't take up all afternoon just to ease the mind.