Haematological profile in antenatal cases at government hospital

Normal pregnancy is accompanied by a number of alterations in maternal physiology with resultant changes in haematological variables. Documented changes include increase in maternal blood and plasma volume by about 40–50% with accompanying red cell mass increase, albeit to a lesser extent, leading to a fall in haematocrit and a consequent dilutional anaemia. In pregnancy, hematological changes occur in order to meet the demands of the developing fetus and placenta, with major alterations in blood volume. Abnormal hematological profile affects pregnancy and its outcome. Although physiological in nature, abnormal hematological profile affects pregnancy and its outcome. One of the most important underlying cause of maternal mortality is due to underlying hematological complications. Anemia and thrombocytopenia are the most frequent hematologic complications during pregnancy.
This study aimed to assess hematological profiles of pregnant women at Government hospital, Mahabubnagar.
Materials & Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted among 200 pregnant antenatal cases at Government hospital, Mahabubnagar. About 4 ml of venous blood was aseptically collected into tri-potassium ethylene di-amine tetra-acetic acid (K3-EDTA) containing blood sample bottles. Samples were kept at room temperature until processing within 4 h of collection and hematological parameters were analyzed using SYSMEX X-1000 and peripheral blood film review. Excluded from the study were hypertensives, diabetics, asthmatics and those with history of sickle cell disease (SCD) or bleeding disorders. Also excluded were women who had febrile illness over the last 2 weeks or on medication that could affect blood cell counts such as antibiotics, anticoagulants or steroids.
Results: A total of 200 pregnant women were recruited for the study with mean ages and gestational ages of 20.50 ± 5.67 years and 22.62 ± 5.52 weeks, respectively. The distribution of study participants according to trimesters of pregnancy were 24 (48%), 59(118%) and 117 (234%) for first, second and third trimesters, respectively. There were differences in mean hematological parameters between trimesters: specifically differences in mean values of WBC Hb, HCT ,RDW ,neutrophil and lymphocyte . The prevalence rates of anemia and thrombocytopenia were 17.62 and 11.7%, respectively .
On the bases of blood picture, we classified anemia’s of pregnancy as Microcytic Hypochromic (51.5%), Normocytic Hypochromic (27.3%), Normocytic Normochromic (18.2%), and Dimorphic (3%).