Delivery of infants with Glanzmann thrombasthenia and subsequent blood transfusion requirements: a follow-up of 39 patients.

The delivery and transfusion requirements of 39 patients with Glanzmann thrombasthenia are described. Of these, type I thrombasthenia was found in 21 females and 12 males, and type II thrombasthenia was found in four females and two males. Eighteen of these patients were born in the hospital and 21 at home. All were delivered vaginally. Absence of excessive hemorrhagic symptoms was noted in neonates affected with thrombasthenia. The patients were followed for a total of 220 patient years and received a total of 276 units of blood during this period. In females, the dominant reason for transfusion was menorrhagia followed by gum bleeding and epistaxis, while in males epistaxis, gum bleeding, and circumcision accounted for most of the transfusions.