THE ROLE OF PLATELET PARAMETERS AS A BIOMARKER IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND IN PREDICTING THE SEVERITY OF PREECLAMPSIA

Aim: To compare platelet count, mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width in preeclampsia and normal pregnant females in diagnosis and assessing the severity preeclampsia. Materials and Methods: Case control study comprising of 50 preeclamptic females between 20 to 24 weeks of gestation as cases and 50 normotensive pregnant females matched for age and gestation as controls. Preeclamptic patients were separated into three groups as mild (25), moderate (13) and severe preeclampsia (12).Platelet count, mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width measured by automated hematology analyzer sysmex KX 21 was recorded in all the groups and analyzed. Results: Platelet count decreased significantly in patients with preeclampsia as compared to normotensive healthy females. (Mean platelet count in lakhs/cumm ± SD - 1.6688 ±.71890 vs 2.5888 ±.66881, p < 0.0001) Among preeclamptic patients there was significant decrease in platelet count with the increasing severity (mild, moderate and severe preeclampsia - 2.2044 + 0.594, 1.176 + 0.267, 1.0917 + 0.385, p < 0.0001). There was significant increase in PDW in preeclampsia when compared to normotensive pregnant females. (PDW in fl - 15.488 ± 2.4685, 11.755 ± 1.4206, p < 0.0001) There were no significant differences in MPV in normal and preeclampsia and between severities of preeclampsia. Conclusion: Platelet count emerges as a reliable indicator for diagnosing preeclampsia and predicting the severity of disease. Though, PDW is also another reliable marker for diagnosis of preeclampsia, its role in assessing the severity of preeclampsia need to be explored. Also increased MPV is not a significant predictor of preeclampsia in pregnancy.