AbstractIntroduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. Women with GDM alone or with type 2 DM are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in future. Literature has shown that platelets play a significant role in the pathogenesis of GDM.There are very few studies relating GDM and platelet parameters emphasized on platelet count (PLT), Mean platelet volume (MPV) and Platelet distribution width (PDW) but not about plateletcrit (PCT) and P-LCR (platelet large cell ratio). The objective of this present study is to compare the platelet parameters including platelet count (PLT), MPV, PDW, PCT and P-LCR in gestational diabetic subjects with healthy pregnant women and to evaluate the effect of GDM on platelet parameters. Materials and Methods: Prospective cross sectional study was conducted for 6 months duration. Ninety GDM patients diagnosed by Oral glucose challenge test (OCT) and Oral glucose tolerance test (OGT) along with ninety normal pregnant females as control were taken up for study. Investigation panel including platelet parameters were done. Results: Statistically significant increase was noted in MPV (p<0.002) and platelet distribution width (p<0.004)and significant decrease was noted in platelet count (p<0.01) in gestational diabetics compared with control group. PCT is decreased in test group but it is only weekly significant (p<0.09), there is no significant difference in P-LCR (p<0.25) among the groups. Conclusion: Determination of these platelet parameters are simple, inexpensive, routinely available and can be used as a predictive markers to identify GDM patients who are at increased risk of CVD in later life.
Keywords: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus; Platelet Parameters; Predictive Value; Screening Methods.