The Predictive Value of Leukocyte Parameters for Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in South China

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the predictive values of the leukocyte parameters for hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP). Methods. A total of 523 HDP patients and 853 normal pregnancies were included in the present study. The leukocyte parameters in different stages of pregnancy were compared among the groups, and the efficiency of clinical diagnosis was calculated to analyze the predictive value of these parameters to HDP. Results. Women with HDP presented significantly higher leukocyte parameters in the second trimester and significantly lower values in the last trimester as compared to the normal gravidas. An evident increase of several parameters was observed preceding the clinical syndromes of HDP; and the odds ratio of increased neutrophil (NEU) and basophil (Baso) for predicting HDP were 1.02 and 1.16 (p < 0.01), respectively. The sensitivity of NEU was 71.95% when it was higher than 6.12 × 10⁹/L, and the specificity of Baso was 71.01% when it was higher than 0.053 × 10⁹/L for the prediction of HDP in 13–20 weeks. Conclusion. The NEU and Baso are helpful for predicting HDP during the presymptom period.

• Hypertensive disorders
• Inflammation
• Leukocyte
• Prediction
• Pregnancy

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to the staff of our hospital laboratory for helping with the data analyses and for providing the data on blood cell parameters. We are also grateful for helping with the data regarding pregnancy characteristics provided by Mei Yuan and Cun-xia Liu.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.