Background: Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) is one of the most common causes of both maternal and neonatal morbidity and associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.Profound changes in coagulation and fibrinolytic system occur during normal pregnancy causing hypercoagulable state. Early identification of high risk women and monitoring derangements in their coagulation system are surely pivotal in the prevention of complications. Hence, this study was undertaken to compare the coagulation profile in pre-eclamptic and eclamptic patients with normotensive pregnant patients. Material and Methods: A total of 240 patients were categorized into two equal groups as Group I - Cases (120 patients of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia) and Group II - Control (120 healthy pregnant women). The coagulation parameters such as BT, CT, PT, aPTT, platelet count of the patients required for the study were carried out by using semi-automated CA-54 coagulation analyzer and kits. Results: Mild PE did not reveal any significant changes in coagulation parameters as compared to healthy pregnant women. However, severe PE and eclampsia were characterized by thrombocytopenia and coagulation abnormalities indicating intravascular coagulation. Platelet count and aPTT had predictive value in screening for consumptive coagulopathy in the severe cases of PE and eclampsia. Discussion: Coagulation studies are the simple, cost effective and readily available tools in early diagnosis of maternal derangement of coagulation in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. The information of present study might enrich the knowledge of clinician for early identification of pre-eclampsia.

Keywords: Pregnancy Induced Hypertension; Coagulation Profile; Eclampsia; Pre- Eclampsia.