Platelet function disorder in women with heavy menstrual bleeding in Eastern Uttar Pradesh

Background: Platelet function disorder (PFD) is turning out to be a major cause of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) in women. One should suspect for this entity and should look for it in all girls who have this issue since menarche to impart proper management. Objectives: This study was carried out to find the incidence of PFD in Patients with HMB referred to our tertiary care teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: Platelet aggregation in response to ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation (RIPA), Adrenaline, adenosine diphosphate, and Collagen was studied in 50 women with HMB and in the equal number of age-matched healthy women. Bleeding time and Platelet count were also measured. Results: Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT) was detected in 5 and Bernard Soulier Syndrome (BSS) in 2 women with HMB. Macrothrombocytopenia was observed in BSS. RIPA was also significantly reduced in BSS but normal in GT. Coagulopathies should always be doubted in the presence of significant anemia. One should carry out the Platelet function studies when screening parameters like prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, von Willebrand factor , and factor VIII activity level are normal. Normal platelet count and morphology in addition suggest functional defects in platelets which can be detected by various aggregation studies, electron microscopy, flow cytometry, and thromboelastography. Conclusion: The clinicians treating women with HMB should be aware of PFD as an important etiology and the platelet function should be studied in all women with HMB in a phase-wise manner in order not to miss the diagnosis and also to make it more cost-effective.