Evaluation of Platelet Count’s Role in the Prediction of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension

Abstract

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is the main pregnancy-specific disease that causes maternal and perinatal death. In recent years, active treatment of pre-eclampsia after 34 weeks of gestation has resulted in good maternal and perinatal outcomes, but the treatment of early-onset pre-eclampsia patients is still unsatisfactory. So the prediction of PIH has become a research hot spot. Therefore, this study attempted to evaluate if a change in platelet count during pregnancy can be used to predict the development of PIH. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 30 healthy normotensive pregnant women and 30 women with PIH. Face-to-face interviews’ using a structured questionnaire and physical examination supplemented with laboratory investigations were used for data collection. Statistical data analysis was done using an independent t-test, linear regression, and one-way ANOVA. The ROC curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off point of platelet count for the prediction of the development of PIH. The mean platelet count in the case was found to be 154.87 (± 42.56) × 103/µL while in controls the mean platelet count was 273.47 (± 34.08) × 103/µL. The ROC analysis showed that platelet count < 225 × 103/µL was a cut-off point to differentiate whether the pregnant women develop PIH or not with a sensitivity of 96.7% and specificity of 90%. In conclusion, a decrease in platelet count was significantly associated with the development and severity of PIH.