Evaluation of platelet count and platelet distribution width during Normal pregnancy course

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Platelet (PLT) counts (PCs) underwent various changes during pregnancy that occur due to hormonal profiles. A reduction in PC is the major event that occurs in PLT disorder during pregnancy. The common laboratory and clinical findings of these disorders make the diagnosis challenging. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of pregnancy on PLT indices among healthy pregnant ladies. METHODS: A case–control hospital-based study was carried out from February 2020 to February 2021 on 150 participants, 100 of them were healthy pregnant Sudanese ladies at different trimesters (36 pregnant in 1st trimester, 33 pregnant in 2nd trimester, and 31 pregnant in 3rd trimester). The control group included 50 healthy nonpregnant Sudanese ladies matched according to age and body mass index. A structured questionnaire was used covering data about demographic history, trimetric period, number of pregnancies, and parity. Five milliliters of blood samples was obtained for the measurement of PLT indices using Sysmex KX-21 automated hematology analyzer. Data were analyzed using the SPSS computer programs version 2S. Independent sample t-test was used to compare the PLT indices between the healthy pregnant and nonpregnant (control). P ≤ 0.05 is considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean of participant's age was found to be 25 years (range of 18–45 years) and all of the participants were within the reproductive age. In all pregnant groups, the mean of PCs, mean PLT volume (MPV), and PLT distribution width (PDW) were found to be 284.3 ± 71.7 × 103/μL, 8.8 ± 1.0 fL, and 13.7 ± 2.5, respectively. While in control groups, the mean of PCs, PMV, and PDW was found to be 218 ± 14.4 × 103/μL, 10.3 ± 3.2 fL, and 11.5 ± 2.5, respectively. The MPV was not significantly changed during pregnancy (P = 0.774). However, the changes in the PC and PDW between the pregnant and nonpregnant (control) group were significant with a P = 0.020 and 0.007, respectively. In the course of pregnancy, the PC in the first, second, and third trimesters was found to be 312 ± 78.3 × 103/μL, 268 ± 62.5 × 103/μL, and 273 ± 65.8 × 103/μL with only statistically significant change between the 1st and 2nd trimesters of pregnancy (P = 0.027). The MPV in the first, second, and third trimesters was found to be 8.7 ± 0.92 fL, 8.9 ± 1.1 fL, and 8.8 ± 1.0 fL, with no statistically significant change during the course of pregnancy. The PDW in the first, second, and third trimesters was found to be 12.8 ± 2.6, 13.7 ± 2.5, and 15 ± 1.8 with only statistically significant change between the 1st and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The PC and PDW increase significantly during pregnancy in comparison to the control group. PC has the highest reading in the first trimester, and the PDW has the highest reading in the third trimester in comparison to the other trimesters. On the other hand, the MPV is nonsignificantly decreased throughout the three trimesters of pregnancy in comparison to the general population. These new values, which are most likely due to the hormonal profile of pregnancy, should be taken into consideration.