The Role of Platelet Indices in Prediction of Pre-eclampsia

Objective: The aim of this work is to investigate the diagnostic value of platelet count (PC), mean platelet volume (MPV), the PC to MPV ratio and platelet distribution width (PDW) for prediction of pre-eclampsia (PE).

Subjects and Methods: This prospective cohort study included 100 pregnant women, in the first trimester of pregnancy attending to University Hospital, Obstetric Outpatient Clinic, for routine obstetric care from January 2019 to December 2019. Routine obstetric follow-up consists of monthly visits until 32nd gestational week, bimonthly visits between 32nd and 36th gestational week, and weekly thereafter. Patients were classified into two groups: group I: 9 pre-eclamptic patients and group II: non pre-eclamptic 91 patients. CBC indices were measured at each planned visit

Results: PC, PC/MPV were significantly decreased, MPV and PDW were significantly increased in group I than group II at the 2nd part of pregnancy. To predict pre-eclampsia, PC at cut-off ≤214, sensitivity was 77.78, specificity was 76.92. MPV at cut-off >9.7, sensitivity was 77.78, specificity was 100.00, PC-MPV at cut-off ≤26.89, sensitivity was 88.89, specificity was 78.02. PDW at cut-off >10.4, sensitivity was 88.89, specificity was 54.95.

Conclusion: The increase in the MPV and PDW and the decrease in PC and PC/MPV were observed in preeclampsia. Thus, the platelet indices which are easily available, as well as economical, can also be used in the prediction and early diagnosis of preeclampsia.