Platelet life span in pregnancies resulting in small-for-gestational age infants.

Platelet number and life span were determined in the last trimester of pregnancy in 22 women who were delivered of small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants and in 21 women with infants having normal birth weights. Platelet life span was determined by means of a nonradioisotopic method involving the use of acetylsalicylic acid. Mean platelet life span was 7.2 days in women with SGA infants, which is significantly shorter than the 9.2 days found in the control group. The mean platelet count in the SGA group was 235 x 10(9)/L, whereas in the control group it was 208 x 10(9)/L. These data indicate the existence of a compensated thrombocytolytic state in pregnancies with insufficient fetal growth. This could be explained by an increased platelet consumption in the uteroplacental arterial bed.