1Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, J J M Medical College, Davangere
2Assistant Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, J J M Medical College, Davangere
3Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, J J M Medical College, Davangere
*Corresponding author: Saroja C Kamatar, Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, J M Medical College, Davangere -577004. Karnataka. Mob: 09886710853, Fax: 08192-231388, E-mail: saroja.kamatar7@gmail.com
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a common complication affecting 5 to 10% of all pregnancies. Maternal complications range from abruption of placenta, DIC, eclampsia, renal failure, pulmonary edema to death. Neonatal complications can range from IUGR, preterm delivery and death. In pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), due to a slow process of consumption coagulopathy, reduced platelet count becomes an early feature of the disease. Hence lowered platelet count may have a prognostic value in PIH.
An institutional based prospective study was conducted during the period of Aug-2005 to Aug-2007. Platelet counts were compared between women having normal pregnancy and Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) during the third trimester.
In the present study we observed 54% of mild PE, 40% severe PE and 6% eclampsia cases. All cases showed decreasing trend in platelet count as pregnancy advanced. Mild PE and normotensive women had similar counts of safe threshold (> 1.5 lakhs) with no complications and managed conservatively. Mild PE cases with lowered count (1–1.5 lakhs) progressed to severe PE. Severe PE cases with platelet count < 1 lakh progressed to eclampsia and developed partial HELLP syndrome. Hence platelet count need to be done in all PIH patients and serially monitored. Decreasing platelet count may be seen prior to the onset of clinical severity and serve as a prognostic factor in PIH.
PIH, Platelet Count, Eclamspia, HELLP Syndrome
