Table 1.

Therapeutic options and considerations for treatment of ITP during pregnancy and lactation

TreatmentDosingResponse rates (%)Time to responseMaternal considerationsFetal considerationsLactation xonsiderations
FIRST LINE 
Prednisone 20-60  mg/d 40-70 3-14 days HTN, diabetes, premature delivery, insomnia, mood lability, fluid overload Hypoglycemia, prematurity,
risk for cleft palate when exposed in first trimester 
Low risk 
IVIG 0.4  g/kg up to 5 days or 1  g/kg for 1-2 days 40-80 1-3 days Headache, fluid overload, HTN, aseptic meningitis, myalgias, hemolysis Hemolysis Low risk 
SECOND LINE (Minimal data available. No uniform recommendations exist regarding optimal agent.) 
Not recommended in pregnancy, but use described 
Romiplostim 1-10 µg/kg/wk 70-80 7-14 days Headache, myalgia Thrombocytosis Limited data, thus not advised
Detected in breast milk50,51  
Eltrombopag 25-75  mg/d 70-80 7-14 days Elevated LFTs, headache Thrombocytosis Limited data, thus not advised 
Cyclosporine 3-5  mg/kg of body weight/d Insufficient data on ITP in pregnancy to calculate 4-12 weeks Renal injury, HTN, tremor IUGR Present in breast milk
Monitor for neonate infection 
Rituximab 375  mg/m2 weekly  ×  4 40-60 1-8 weeks Infusion reaction, hypogammaglobulinemia, infection, curtailed vaccine response Hypogammaglobulinemia, reduced B cells Minimal concentrations, low risk 
Azathioprine 50-75  mg/d Insufficient data on ITP in pregnancy to calculate 8-16 weeks Transaminitis, neutropenia, infection Case reports of use in renal transplant recipients with congenital anomalies, heme toxicity, and IUGR Neonate neutropenia has been reported. Avoidance or neonate CBC monitoring advised 
Generally contraindicated in pregnancy, but use described 
Dapsone 100  mg/d 40-50 7-14 days Hemolysis Anemia, prematurity Hemolytic anemia reported (check G6PD level and monitor CBC) 
RhD immune globulin 50 µg/kg of body weight 70 4-5 days *Limit use to nonsplenectomized patients
Hemolysis, renal failure, infusion reaction 
Anemia, jaundice Low risk 
Splenectomy Optimal timing is early second trimester or before pregnancy 50-80 1-60 days Bleeding, infection, thrombosis risk, preterm labor Prematurity Minimal risk 
CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANCY 
Vinca alkaloids
Cyclophosphamide
Mycophenolate mofetil
Danazol
Fostamatinib 
TreatmentDosingResponse rates (%)Time to responseMaternal considerationsFetal considerationsLactation xonsiderations
FIRST LINE 
Prednisone 20-60  mg/d 40-70 3-14 days HTN, diabetes, premature delivery, insomnia, mood lability, fluid overload Hypoglycemia, prematurity,
risk for cleft palate when exposed in first trimester 
Low risk 
IVIG 0.4  g/kg up to 5 days or 1  g/kg for 1-2 days 40-80 1-3 days Headache, fluid overload, HTN, aseptic meningitis, myalgias, hemolysis Hemolysis Low risk 
SECOND LINE (Minimal data available. No uniform recommendations exist regarding optimal agent.) 
Not recommended in pregnancy, but use described 
Romiplostim 1-10 µg/kg/wk 70-80 7-14 days Headache, myalgia Thrombocytosis Limited data, thus not advised
Detected in breast milk50,51  
Eltrombopag 25-75  mg/d 70-80 7-14 days Elevated LFTs, headache Thrombocytosis Limited data, thus not advised 
Cyclosporine 3-5  mg/kg of body weight/d Insufficient data on ITP in pregnancy to calculate 4-12 weeks Renal injury, HTN, tremor IUGR Present in breast milk
Monitor for neonate infection 
Rituximab 375  mg/m2 weekly  ×  4 40-60 1-8 weeks Infusion reaction, hypogammaglobulinemia, infection, curtailed vaccine response Hypogammaglobulinemia, reduced B cells Minimal concentrations, low risk 
Azathioprine 50-75  mg/d Insufficient data on ITP in pregnancy to calculate 8-16 weeks Transaminitis, neutropenia, infection Case reports of use in renal transplant recipients with congenital anomalies, heme toxicity, and IUGR Neonate neutropenia has been reported. Avoidance or neonate CBC monitoring advised 
Generally contraindicated in pregnancy, but use described 
Dapsone 100  mg/d 40-50 7-14 days Hemolysis Anemia, prematurity Hemolytic anemia reported (check G6PD level and monitor CBC) 
RhD immune globulin 50 µg/kg of body weight 70 4-5 days *Limit use to nonsplenectomized patients
Hemolysis, renal failure, infusion reaction 
Anemia, jaundice Low risk 
Splenectomy Optimal timing is early second trimester or before pregnancy 50-80 1-60 days Bleeding, infection, thrombosis risk, preterm labor Prematurity Minimal risk 
CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANCY 
Vinca alkaloids
Cyclophosphamide
Mycophenolate mofetil
Danazol
Fostamatinib 

G6PD, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; HTN, hypertension; IUGR, intrauterine growth retardation; LFTs, liver function tests;.

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