[Caesarean section with splenectomy in a patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (author's transl)].

We report a patient who had a marked exacerbation of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura at 33 weeks of pregnancy. The platelet count rose in response to treatment with high doses of glucocorticoids and it was possible to allow the pregnancy to continue until 39 weeks. The patient was then delivered by elective Caesarean section and she had a splenectomy at the same time. A transfusion of platelets was administered as soon as the splenic vessels had been clamped. The resultant excess of platelets necessitated treatment with acetylsalicylic acid. At 18 months after Caesarean section and splenectomy the thrombocytopenia had not recurred. The infant had transient neonatal thrombocytopenia but required no active treatment for this.