STUDY OF THE PLATELET COUNT & COAGULATION PROFILE IN PATIENTS WITH PREGNANCY-INDUCED HYPERTENSION

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy-induced hypertension is an important hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and is associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidity. Hematological and coagulation abnormalities are commonly seen in PIH and may worsen with increasing severity. Aim: To study the platelet count and coagulation profile in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based observational comparative study was conducted in the Department of Pathology in collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at a ACS Medical College and Hospital teaching hospital. The study included pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic or admitted to the obstetrics ward with pregnancy-induced hypertension. The study was conducted over a period of 12 months, from 01/01/2025 to 01/02/2026. A total of 100 pregnant women with PIH were included in the study. Results: The majority of cases were in the 26–30 years age group. Gestational hypertension was the most common type of PIH. Thrombocytopenia was observed in 52% of cases. Platelet count decreased with increasing severity of PIH, while MPV and PDW increased and plateletcrit decreased. The association between thrombocytopenia and severity of PIH was statistically significant (χ² = 42.68, p < 0.001). Coagulation parameters including bleeding time, clotting time, PT, APTT, and INR showed progressive prolongation from gestational hypertension to eclampsia and were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Platelet count and coagulation profile are useful laboratory indicators for assessing severity of PIH. Decreasing platelet count, altered platelet indices, and prolonged coagulation parameters correlate with worsening PIH. Routine evaluation of these parameters can help in early detection of complications and timely management to reduce maternal and fetal morbidity.