Abstract
Introduction: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a common obstetrical complication, but 50% of cases have an undetermined etiology. Antiphospholipid syndrome (APL) is an autoimmune disease that has been linked to RPL. Platelet abnormalities, particularly thrombophilia, have been linked to RPL.
Objectives: This study examined the change in platelet parameters, specifically, platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width (PDW), in patients presenting with RPL caused by APL.
Patients and Methods: Fifty women with a confirmed diagnosis of APL syndrome with a history of RPL were assigned as a study group, and 50 women who gave birth without RPL were healthy controls. Pregnant women were recruited from Al Yarmouk teaching hospital. Personal data were collected through direct interviews with patients, followed by blood samples that were analyzed for complete blood counts and platelet indices.
Results: Both platelet count and PDW showed a significant correlation with the number of pregnancy losses; Pearson’s correlation coefficient was (r=0.74, and r=0.59) for platelet count and PDW. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) calculated a platelet count cut-off value of 230, with 88% sensitivity and 84% specificity, an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.89, and a P value of 0.001. The PDW had a cut-off value of 13.6 fl/L, associated with 88% sensitivity, 80% specificity, AUC=0.87, and a P value <0.001.
Conclusion: Platelet indices may aid gynecologists in low-resource settings in predicting high-risk pregnancies deemed to suffer from RPL.