A Study of Platelet Count and Mean Platelet Volume in Newborn of Preeclamptic Mother

Introduction: Pregnancy is a physiological process. Preeclampsia is the commonest complication during pregnancy. This condition might severely affect the health of mothers and their newborns. Newborn of mothers with preeclampsia are more liable for intrauterine growth retardation and may be delivered prematurely. Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to evaluate the platelet count and mean platelet volume in newborn of preeclamptic mother. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 2017 to December 2017. Total 60 newborns were included in this study. The subjects were divided into 2 groups. Group A (Study group): Thirty (30) newborns of preeclamptic mother and Group B (Control group): Thirty (30) newborns of healthy pregnant mother. The subjects were selected from Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka on the basis of exclusion and inclusion criteria. Five (5) ml. of cord blood was collected from each newborn after delivery and was analyzed for Platelet count and mean platelet volume. These parameters were estimated in the Department of Hematology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka. Data were collected in pre- designed structured questionnaire form by the researcher herself. For statistical analysis Unpaired Student’s “t” test, Chi Square test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) test were performed as applicable using SPSS for windows version 16.0. p value <0.05 was accepted as level of significance. Results: The mean (± SD) platelet count was 164.77 ± 79.44 × 103/µl and 212.83 ± 54.04 ×103/µl in group A and B respectively. In this study, the mean (±SD) platelet count was lower in group A in comparison to that of group B which was statistically significant (p<0.001). The mean (± SD) platelet volume was 8.90±1.15 fl and 8.30±1.45 fl in group A and B respectively. In this study, the mean (±SD) platelet volume was higher in group A in comparison to that of group B which was not statistically significant. Maternal systolic blood pressure showed negative correlation (- 0.952) with platelet count of newborn in preeclamptic mother, which was statistically significant (p<0.001). Maternal diastolic blood pressure showed negative correlation (- 0.960) with platelet count of newborn in preeclamptic mother, which was statistically significant (p<0.001). Maternal systolic blood pressure showed negative correlation (-0.973) with mean platelet volume of newborn in preeclamptic mother, which was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Maternal diastolic blood pressure showed negative correlation (-0.964) with mean platelet volume of newborn in preeclamptic mother, which was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: From the findings of the study, it can be concluded that the platelet count of newborn of preeclamptic mother was significantly lower in comparison to newborn of healthy pregnant mother but they were within normal range. This difference was significantly related to severity of maternal blood pressure. But there was no statistically significant difference in mean platelet volume between the groups. There was no statistically significant relation of mean platelet volume to maternal blood pressure.