title: Poor predictive value of platelet count, mean platelet volume and serum urate in hypertension in pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the usefulness of platelet count, mean platelet volume and serum uric acid levels in the prediction of pre-eclampsia in women with mild hypertension in pregnancy, and to see if it is appropriate to base the management of such patients on these tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and thirty-six women attending the antenatal day unit with a diagnosis of non-proteinuric hypertension in pregnancy (diastolic blood pressure > or = 90 mmHg on two separate recordings) from whom at least one blood sample was taken.
  
  
  METHODS
  The development of proteinuria (1+ or greater on urine Albustix); the need for oral antihypertensive medication, the need for the 'pre-eclampsia regime' intra- or post-partum; the need for induction of labour because of hypertension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No test, at any cut-off level, was found to be of any use in predicting the outcomes studied. Nor was a weekly change in any of the tests found to be of any use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Basing the management of patients with mild non-proteinuric hypertension on the results of platelet count, mean platelet volume or urate level is unwise as none of these tests was able to predict outcome in such patients.
authors.affiliation: Bradford Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Calvert
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Tuffnell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haley
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010976:Platelet Count; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014527:Uric Acid