Platelet volume indices in gestational hypertension: An observational study

Abstract

Background & Objectives: The incidence of gestational hypertension is increasing in India which accounts for various maternal morbidity & mortality. As gestational hypertension is hypercogulability state we wanted to assess platelet volume indices in gestational hypertension. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional, case-control study conducted in the Department of Physiology, in collaboration with OBG and Pathology after obtaining institutional ethical clearance. Study includes 60 (n=60) hypertensive as cases and 60 (n=60) normotensive as controls who were in third trimester of pregnancy. Blood pressure was measured using mercury sphygmomanometer and those who had BP values more than 140/90 mmHg without proteinuria were taken as cases and those with normal values were taken as controls. Platelet volume indices were measured using sysmex automated flow meter. Statistically analyzed using t test and pearson’s correlation by SPSS 20 software. Results: Mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width and large cell platelet ratio were higher in hypertensive pregnant female when compared to normotensives which is not statistically significant. (10.72± 1.08 Vs 10.61±1.08 p= 0.56, 12.69± 2.79 Vs 12.57±2.85 p= 0.80, 30.75± 8.50 Vs 29.75±8.70 p= 0.52) plateletcrit was lower in hypertensive when compared to normotensive. (0.23± 0.08 Vs 0.24±0.04 p=0.48) there was no statistical significant correlation exists between BP and platelet volume indices. Conclusion: Our study concludes no strong association of platelet volume indices with severity of hypertension amongst gestational hypertension.

Keywords

• pregnancy induced hypertension
• plateletcrit
• mean platelet volume