ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of mean platelet volume (MPV) and MPV/platelet count ratio and to determine whether they are based on hemoconcentration in patients with spontaneous abortions.

A total of 271 women with singleton pregnancies between January 1, 2012, and June 30, 2012, were included (171 healthy pregnant, 200 spontaneous abortion). Study data were obtained from hospital data processing system, emergency department charts, and consultation records. Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis H (post-hoc Bonferroni-corrected Mann-Whitney U), and logistic regression (LR forward method) analyses were used as appropriate.

Among the patients with MPV>9.1 fl, it was observed that they had a greater rate of spontaneous abortions with vaginal bleeding. The levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, urea, and creatinine as well as platelets count were significantly higher in women with a spontaneous abortion (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between abortion subgroups with bleeding and non-bleeding symptoms (p>0.05).

These results suggest that minimal changes in both MPV and MPV/platelet count ratio can aid the clinician during routine pregnancy visits or in the emergency department by serving as indicators of an increased risk of abortion, but more importantly the elevated hemoglobin despite bleeding strongly suggests hemoconcentration possibility.

Keywords: Emergency, pregnancy, routine laboratory, spontaneous abortion