A Study of the Significance of Platelet Indices in Patients With Preeclampsia Attending a Tertiary Care Center in Jharkhand

Introduction Preeclampsia is a multisystem hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that remains a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. It arises after 20 weeks of gestation and is characterized by new-onset hypertension with proteinuria or end-organ dysfunction. Abnormal placentation and placental ischemia trigger the release of anti-angiogenic factors such as soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT-1) and soluble endoglin, leading to endothelial dysfunction and platelet activation. Consequently, platelet indices, namely, platelet count (PC), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and plateletcrit (PCT), may serve as accessible markers of disease severity. Methodology This 18-month observational cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS). Eighty pregnant women (≥18 years, >20 weeks of gestation) with preeclampsia were included. Patients with pre-existing hypertension, chronic renal disease, diabetes mellitus, or hematological disorders were excluded, as these conditions can independently influence platelet count and platelet activation. Their exclusion ensured that changes in platelet indices could be more reliably attributed to preeclampsia rather than confounding comorbidities. Results Among 80 patients (mean age: 26.2 years), most were primigravida and presented near term; 58.75% progressed to eclampsia. Thrombocytopenia was observed in 23.75%, while elevated MPV and PDW were noted in 27.5% and 60%, respectively. PDW showed the strongest correlation with disease severity. Neonatal outcomes were favorable in 96.25% of cases. Conclusions PDW was the platelet index most strongly associated with progression to eclampsia. Platelet count showed a weaker predictive relationship, while MPV and PCT demonstrated a moderate association with increasing disease severity. Overall, platelet indices, particularly PDW, showed a statistically significant association with disease severity, supporting their potential utility in the clinical assessment and monitoring of preeclampsia.