STUDY OF PLATELET INDICES IN PREGNANCY INDUCED HYPERTENSION (PIH)

Background: Hypertension is one of the common medical complications of pregnancy and contributes significantly to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Hypertension is a sign of an underlying pathology which may be pre-existing or appear for the first time during pregnancy. Various haematological changes like numerical and functional platelet abnormalities, alteration in haemoglobin and erythrocyte parameters and increase in the procoagulant state of normal pregnancy are seen. Aims and Objectives: Evaluation of Platelet indices in PIH. To identify the early platelet parameters predictive of preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. Materials and methods: A 2 year study was carried out in the Dept. of pathology ESIMC, Bangalore on 100 PIH cases. Platelet indices is done in all the cases. P values for all parameters were statistically derived and evaluated. Results: Total of 100 cases were included in the study. 37 were mild GH, 9 cases were severe GH, 29 cases were mild preeclampsia and 25 cases were in severe preeclampsia group. Thrombocytopenia was observed in 23 cases and elevated MPV in 49 cases. Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia is identified as the most common complications of PIH and at times may be life threatening. Therefore estimation of platelet indices can be considered as an early, simple and rapid procedure in the assessment of severity of pre-eclampsia and to prevent progression to HELLP syndrome and DIC.