Abstract
ASSESSMENT OF PLATELET COUNT AND INDICES DURING FIRST AND SECOND TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY IN SUDANESE PREGNANT LADIES

Pregnancy is associated with several changes in platelet count and platelet indices arising from increased platelet consumption in the uteroplacental circulation and haemodilution. Thebloodvolumeincreaseby40%to45% on average, this increase occurs faster in the second trimester. To assess the platelet count and indices during first and second trimester of pregnancy in Sudanese pregnant ladies.This case control study was conducted in Antenatal clinic in eastern of Khartoum state, Baharysector. A total of 150 pregnant women enrolled, 50 apparently healthy non-pregnant women of reproductive age volunteered were used as controls. Patients included in this study were pregnant women in first and second trimester of gestation. 2.5 ml of Venous blood of all Pregnant women was collected in Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid (EDTA) containers to perform Complete blood count ( platelet count and platelet indices) were measured by using Hematology auto Analyzer BC (3000-china ) on the same day of collection, Clinical data were collected from patient medical records. The pregnant women were aged between 19 and 41 years and the non-pregnant controls were aged between 19 and 30years .The mean platelet count for the pregnant women was 291.80 ± 64.68 x 109/L; the mean MPV 10.210 ±1.043 fL; the mean PCT was 26.76 ± 7.41% and PDW was 14.544 ± 13.53fL. Our study also confirmed the concept of platelet consumption in pregnancy.Our study found lower platelet counts in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women; platelets tend to decrease with increasing gestational age. PCT and PDW were also lower in pregnant women.