Platelet Indices in Maternal Health
Summary
Platelets play a central role in haemostasis and vascular integrity throughout pregnancy, adapting dynamically to meet the evolving demands of the maternal–foetal circulation. Quantitative and qualitative changes in platelet parameters—commonly referred to as platelet indices—reflect platelet production, activation and turnover. Key indices include platelet count, mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width, each of which can signal disturbances in maternal endothelial function, coagulation pathways or inflammatory status. In conditions such as preeclampsia, gestational hypertension and fetal growth restriction, characteristic shifts in these indices have emerged as accessible biomarkers for early detection, risk stratification and monitoring of disease progression. The integration of simple, routinely available full blood count measures into antenatal care holds global appeal for resource-constrained settings, offering cost-effective insight into maternal health and potential perinatal outcomes.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Platelet Indices in Maternal Health publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in platelet indices in maternal health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Platelet count: The number of platelets per unit volume of blood, indicating platelet production and consumption.
Mean platelet volume (MPV): The average size of circulating platelets, with larger values reflecting younger or more reactive platelets.
Platelet distribution width (PDW): A measure of variability in platelet size, often rising with platelet activation or heterogeneity.
Mitochondrial membrane potential (Mmp-Index): A metric of mitochondrial function in platelets, where depolarisation signals early apoptosis or dysfunction.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Chemically reactive molecules derived from oxygen, implicated in platelet activation and oxidative stress.
References
- Platelet mitochondrial membrane depolarization reflects disease severity in patients with preeclampsia. Molecular Medicine (2022).
- Platelets in Fetal Growth Restriction: Role of Reactive Oxygen Species, Oxygen Metabolism, and Aggregation. Cells (2022).
- Preeclampsia has an association with both platelet count and mean platelet volume: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE (2022).
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.