Platelet Indices and Their Role in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Pre-Eclampsia: A Comparative Study

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and pre-eclampsia (PE) are common pregnancy complications linked to significant maternal and perinatal morbidity. Both conditions involve platelet activation and systemic inflammation, making platelet indices potential markers for early diagnosis and monitoring.Methods: This comparative study involved 180 pregnant women divided equally into three groups: newly diagnosed PE, newly diagnosed GDM, and healthy controls. Participants were recruited at LNJP Hospital, New Delhi. Platelet indices including platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), plateletcrit, platelet large cell ratio (P-LCR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were measured using a hematology analyzer. Statistical analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey test to compare groups. Result: Significant alterations in platelet indices were observed in both GDM and PE groups compared to controls (p < 0.001). MPV, PDW, P-LCR, PLR, and NLR levels were elevated in GDM and PE, with the highest values in PE. Platelet count and plateletcrit were notably reduced, especially in PE. These findings indicate enhanced platelet activation and systemic inflammation in these conditions.Conclusion: Platelet indices demonstrate significant changes in GDM and PE, reflecting their role in the pathogenesis of these disorders. Given their accessibility through routine blood tests, these indices offer cost-effective, non-invasive tools for early risk assessment and monitoring. Further large-scale studies are recommended to validate their clinical utility.