Lowered Platelet Count as a Prognostic Factor in Pregnancy Induced Hypertension - a Prospective Study

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a common complication affecting 5 to 10% of all pregnancies. Maternal complications range from abruption of placenta, DIC, eclampsia, renal failure, pulmonary edema to death. Neonatal complications can range from IUGR, preterm delivery and death. In pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), due to a slow process of consumption coagulopathy, reduced platelet count becomes an early feature of the disease. Hence lowered platelet count may have a prognostic value in PIH.