Is Mean Platelet Volume is a Predictor of Pre-Eclampsia and Its Severity

Abstract

Objective: To determine the worth of mean platelet volume in the prediction of risk and severity of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women. Methodology: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. A sample of 200 patients was taken by non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Patients were divide in three groups as Normal Blood pressure, mild pre eclampsia and sever pre eclampsia according to Blood pressure recording.  The age, gravidity, parity, number of abortions, gestational weeks were documented. Platelet counts, and mean platelet volume values were recorded. Data was analyzed using the software SPSS v.23. One way ANOVA test was applied. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.Results: A total number of 200 patients were enrolled in this study of which 94 patients were normal, seventy were mildly pre-eclamptic and 36 were severely pre-eclamptic. The mean age, gravidity, parity, no. of abortions and gestational weeks of the patients were 28.24±5.82 years, 2.89±1.25, 1.25±0.97, 0.65±0.86, and 29.35±4.77 weeks, respectively. The platelet count of normal patients, in mildly pre-eclamptic and in severely pre-eclamptic was 263200.7±53918.6, 201546.49±36916.36 and 170379.61±34475.69, respectively. The difference was statistically significant, (p= 0.000). The mean platelet volume of normal patients, in mildly pre-eclamptic and in severely pre-eclamptic was 7.58±1.14, 8.44±1.42, and 9.36±1.12 FL, respectively. The difference was also statistically significant, (p=0.000).Conclusion: Current study reveals that platelet count and mean platelet volume vary according to severity of pre-eclampsia. Platelet count decreases while mean platelet volume increases with increase in severity of pre-eclampsia. Subsequently, platelet count to mean platelet volume ratio also decreases with increasing severity. In short, these parameters can be helpful in predicting the risk and severity of pre-eclampsia at a much lower cost.

Keywords: pre-eclampsia, platelet count, mean platelet volume