Red Cell and Platelet Indices in Women with Preeclampsia in Federal Medical Centre, Owerri

Preeclampsia is a serious and life-threatening pregnancy complication. It is universally defined as hypertension and significant proteinuria developed at or after 20 weeks of pregnancy in an otherwise normotensive woman. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of haematological parameters in pregnant women with preeclampsia in Federal Medical Centre Owerri. A total of 120 pregnant women aged 18-45 years at 28-40 weeks of pregnancy were recruited; 60 were women with preeclampsia while 60 were pregnant women with normal blood pressure. Haematological parameters were analyzed using haematology auto-analyser by Sysmex® KX-21N. The median value of RBC (3.20 x1012/l), Hb (9.60 g/dl), PCV (29.00 %) and MCV (86.00 fl) were significantly lower (p<0.05) in women with preeclampsia compared with normotensive pregnant women RBC (3.66 x1012/l), Hb (10.60 g/dl), PCV (33.70 %) and MCV (91.30 fl) while the median value of MCH (30.00 pg) and MCHC (34.00 g/dl) were significantly higher (p<0.05) in women with preeclampsia compared with normotensive pregnant women MCH (29.45 pg) and MCHC (32.85 g/dl) . The median value of platelet (136x x1012/l), MPV (9.20 fl) and PCT (0.14 %) of women with preeclampsia decreased significantly (p<0.05) when compared to Normotensive pregnant women platelet (199x x1012/l), MPV (9.40 fl) and PCT (0.16 %) while the median value of PDW (15.70 %) and PLCR (21.00 %) of women with preeclampsia increased significantly (p<0.05) compared to normotensive pregnant women PDW (14.75 %) and PLCR (18.75 %). In this study, red cell and platelet indices were altered in preeclampsia. Thrombocytopenia was observed in most of our study population. Therefore, assessing these markers may be useful in the diagnosis and management of preeclampsia.