Skip to content

Platelet Count Trends in Pre-eclamptic Parturients

Platelet Count Trends in Pre-eclamptic Parturients: What is the Predictive Value of an Initial Platelet Count During Labor?

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00787241
Enrollment
445
Registered
2008-11-07
Start date
2002-09-30
Completion date
2003-05-31
Last updated
2014-04-14

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Obstetric Labor Complications, Preeclampsia, Thrombocytopenia

Keywords

Platelets, Labor, Preeclampsia

Brief summary

Thrombocytopenia (platelet count \< 100,000/mL) occurs in approximately 15% of women with preeclampsia. Neuraxial analgesia is contraindicated in parturients with a coagulopathy; therefore, the platelet count(PC) is routinely checked prior to the initiation of neuraxial analgesia in women with preeclampsia/eclampsia. Catheter removal is also contraindicated in the presence of a coagulopathy. Some women have an acceptable PC at the initiation of neuraxial analgesia, but may become significantly more thrombocytopenic during labor and delivery. In a study of severely preeclamptic parturients, some with HELLP (H=hemolysis of red blood cells, EL=elevated liver enzymes, LP=low platelet count) syndrome, the admission PC correlated with the PC nadir. However, the natural progression of the PC has not been studied in women with mild preeclampsia. We hypothesize that women with mild preeclampsia or severe preeclampsia without HELLP syndrome, and whose admission PC is greater than 150,000/mL, will have a stable PC during the course of labor and delivery and do not require another PC check prior to initiation of neuraxial analgesia or removal of the epidural catheter. The purpose of this study is to determine the positive predictive value of an initial PC greater than 150,000/mL for maintaining a PC greater than 80,000/mL during labor and delivery.

Detailed description

All women who delivered from 1/2000 through 12/2002, with the discharge diagnosis of mild preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia (including HELLP and eclampsia), and preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension were identified through the Perinatal Database. Platelet counts (PC) for each patient, from one month prior to the delivery admission, until hospital discharge, were analyzed. The number of PC determinations per parturient was determined. For each diagnosis, the positive predictive value (PPV) of an initial PC \> 150,000/mL for maintaining subsequent PC \> 80,000/mL, as well as the PPV of the PC prior to initiation of neuraxial analgesia was calculated. The median time interval from the closest PC determination to initiation of neuraxial analgesia was calculated.

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Northwestern University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
RETROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* All participants who delivered between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2002, identified as having preeclampsia (without HELLP syndrome) in the Perinatal Database.

Exclusion criteria

* Participants not diagnosed with preeclampsia and/or outside the given criteria dates.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Positive Predictive Value of Earliest Available Platelet Count0 to 72 hours following deliveryThe positive predictive value of the earliest available platelet count with the maintenance of a platelet count greater than 80,000 during labor and delivery and removal of the epidural catheter was calculated. The test was considered true if the first platelet count was \>150,000 platelets and the subsequent platelet counts remained above 80,000 platelets. The number of subjects with a test equal true was divided by the total number of subjects with a platelet counts \>150,000 at the earliest available platelet count multiplied by 100.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Positive Predictive Value of Platelet Count Closet to Neuraxial Analgesia0 to 72 hours following deliveryThe positive predictive value of the platelet count closest to neuraxial analgesia with the maintenance of a platelet count greater than 80,000 during labor and delivery and removal of the epidural catheter was calculated. The test was considered true if the closest platelet count was \>150,000 platelets and the subsequent platelet counts remained above 80,000 platelets. The number of subjects with a test equal true was divided by the total number of subjects with a platelet counts \>150,000 at the closest available platelet count multiplied by 100.
Time Interval (Hours) From Closet Platelet Count to Initiation of Neuraxial Analgesia1 week to time of neuraxial analgesiaTime interval in hours from the closest obtained platelet count to the initiation of neuraxial analgesia.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Women who delivered from 1/2000 thru 12/2002 with the discharge diagnosis of mild preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia and preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension were retrospectively evaluated.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Mild Preeclampsia
Subjects with a discharge diagnosis of mild preeclampsia
261
Severe Preeclampsia
Subjects with a discharge diagnosis of severe preeclampsia including HELP syndrome
143
Mild Preeclampsia Superimposed on Chronic Hypertension
Subjects with a discharge diagnosis of preeclampsia with a history of chronic hypertension prior to pregnancy
41
Total445

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicMild PreeclampsiaSevere PreeclampsiaMild Preeclampsia Superimposed on Chronic HypertensionTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
261 Participants143 Participants41 Participants445 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
261 participants143 participants41 participants445 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
261 Participants143 Participants41 Participants445 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 2610 / 1430 / 41
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 2610 / 1430 / 41

Outcome results

Primary

Positive Predictive Value of Earliest Available Platelet Count

The positive predictive value of the earliest available platelet count with the maintenance of a platelet count greater than 80,000 during labor and delivery and removal of the epidural catheter was calculated. The test was considered true if the first platelet count was \>150,000 platelets and the subsequent platelet counts remained above 80,000 platelets. The number of subjects with a test equal true was divided by the total number of subjects with a platelet counts \>150,000 at the earliest available platelet count multiplied by 100.

Time frame: 0 to 72 hours following delivery

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Mild PreeclampsiaPositive Predictive Value of Earliest Available Platelet Count99 percentage of positive platelet counts
Severe PreeclampsiaPositive Predictive Value of Earliest Available Platelet Count90 percentage of positive platelet counts
Mild Preeclampsia Superimposed on Chronic HypertensionPositive Predictive Value of Earliest Available Platelet Count100 percentage of positive platelet counts
Secondary

Positive Predictive Value of Platelet Count Closet to Neuraxial Analgesia

The positive predictive value of the platelet count closest to neuraxial analgesia with the maintenance of a platelet count greater than 80,000 during labor and delivery and removal of the epidural catheter was calculated. The test was considered true if the closest platelet count was \>150,000 platelets and the subsequent platelet counts remained above 80,000 platelets. The number of subjects with a test equal true was divided by the total number of subjects with a platelet counts \>150,000 at the closest available platelet count multiplied by 100.

Time frame: 0 to 72 hours following delivery

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Mild PreeclampsiaPositive Predictive Value of Platelet Count Closet to Neuraxial Analgesia99 percentage of positive platelet counts
Severe PreeclampsiaPositive Predictive Value of Platelet Count Closet to Neuraxial Analgesia93 percentage of positive platelet counts
Mild Preeclampsia Superimposed on Chronic HypertensionPositive Predictive Value of Platelet Count Closet to Neuraxial Analgesia100 percentage of positive platelet counts
Secondary

Time Interval (Hours) From Closet Platelet Count to Initiation of Neuraxial Analgesia

Time interval in hours from the closest obtained platelet count to the initiation of neuraxial analgesia.

Time frame: 1 week to time of neuraxial analgesia

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Mild PreeclampsiaTime Interval (Hours) From Closet Platelet Count to Initiation of Neuraxial Analgesia4 Hours
Severe PreeclampsiaTime Interval (Hours) From Closet Platelet Count to Initiation of Neuraxial Analgesia3 Hours
Mild Preeclampsia Superimposed on Chronic HypertensionTime Interval (Hours) From Closet Platelet Count to Initiation of Neuraxial Analgesia4 Hours

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026