Evaluation of Antithrombin-III Activity and Platelet Count in Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension among Pregnant Women attending Antenatal care in a Tertiary Health Facility in Southeast, Nigeria

Background: Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a significant health issue that affects maternal and fetal outcomes. Antithrombin-III (AT-III) and platelet count alterations could serve as pivotal indicators for the management and prognosis of PIH. Objective: This study aimed to assess AT-III activity and platelet counts in pregnant women with and without PIH at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Methods: A case-control cross-sectional analytical study design was employed, including 135 pregnant women with PIH and 135 age-matched normotensive pregnant women. Exclusion criteria comprised chronic hypertension, known thrombophilic disorders, or anticoagulant therapy before pregnancy. AT-III levels and platelet counts were compared between groups using SPSS version 20.0, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: AT-III activity was significantly lower in the PIH group (75.45±6.23%) compared to the normotensive group (96.84±9.64%, p=0.028). Similarly, platelet count was significantly reduced in the PIH group (170.90 ±8.78 x109/L) versus the normotensive group (191.56±6.54 x109/L, p=0.032). No significant differences were found in sociodemographic variables except for the trimester of antenatal care registration and history of preeclampsia in previous pregnancies. Conclusion: This study highlights significant reductions in AT-III activity and platelet count among pregnant women with PIH, suggesting these parameters' potential role in PIH management and prognosis. These findings emphasize the importance of monitoring AT-III levels and platelet count as part of the antenatal care protocol in pregnant women, particularly those with or at risk for PIH.