Platelet count in 100 cases of pregnancy induced hypertension

Hypertensive disorders are most common medical complication of pregnancy and the major causes of maternal & perinatal disease and death worldwide. The aim of the study was to see the platelet count in pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). It was a prospective study. The study was done on 100 cases of PIH patients in Gynae & Obstetrics department of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) during the period of January to July 2006. Among the 100 cases 60 were eclamptic, 34 were pre eclamptic (PE) and 06 were gestational hypertensive (GH) patients. All the necessary informations and data were collected by interviewing the patients or their attendants on a pre-designed data collection sheet. Blood sample were collected from the patients and required investigations were done. Most of the eclampsia cases were from below average socioeconomic status of family, and other two groups were from average socioeconomic status of family. Among eclamptic patients 76.60% were primigravida. In eclamptic group 93.33% did not get any antenatal care but 83.33% GH cases had regular antenatal care. Among the eclamptic group mean maternal age was 23.12 years. In our study 47.00% had low platelet count (<1,50,000/cmm). Among eclampsia group 60.00% had low platelet count (<1,50,000/cmm). In our study 12% cases developed postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) and among them 66.67% had low platelet count (<1,50,000/cmm). Although there is chance of development of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and Liver Failure in patients with low platelet count, but in our study there is no such incidence. In our study mortality was 3% and all were in eclamptic group. Those patients had low platelet count 74.28% had low birth weight (LBW) babies. Platelet count is a very important investigation for antenatal mother having PIH, as it is directly related to maternal and perinatal outcome.