Predictive value of the HALP score for pre-eclampsia with severe features

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Predictive tests are needed to ensure the development and subsequent follow-up of pre-eclampsia, which is responsible for significant rates of morbidity and mortality during pregnancy. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of the Hemoglobin, Albumin, Lymphocyte, and Platelet (HALP) score for the severity of preeclampsia.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the data of women diagnosed with pre-eclampsia at our clinic from January 2019 to January 2023. The control group consisted of normotensive, healthy pregnant women. Women diagnosed with preeclampsia were further evaluated in two groups: those with severe features and those without severe features. The clinical and demographic data of the cases were evaluated. The HALP score was calculated using the first trimester blood parameters of the cases and compared between groups.

Results

The study included 229 patients with preeclampsia and 142 normotensive healthy controls. Of the patients with preeclampsia, 104 (28.1%) had severe features of the disease. The HALP score was significantly higher in the preeclampsia group with severe features than in the control group (6.18 ± 2.66 vs. 3.75 ± 1.86; p = 0.006). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the HALP score (odds ratio: 2.02, 95% confidence interval: 1.10–3.32, p = 0.017) was found to be an independent indicator for preeclampsia with severe features. A HALP score of > 4.61 predicted the development of preeclampsia with severe features with a sensitivity of 74.5% and a specificity of 81.3%.

Conclusion

We found a significant correlation between the HALP score and preeclampsia with severe features. The HALP score may be useful in predicting the severity of preeclampsia.

KEYWORDS:

• HALP score
• preeclampsia
• severe features
• predictive value
• first trimester

Declaration of financial/other relationships

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all the participants in this study.

Author contributions

Zekiye Soykan Sert and Mete Bertizlioğlu contributed to the conception/design of the study. Mete Bertizlioğlu contributed to data acquisition. Zekiye Soykan Sert contributed to data analysis and interpretation. All authors contributed to the drafting of the manuscript and approved the final version of the manuscript for publication.

Ethics statement

This study protocol was approved by Clinical Research Ethical Committee of Aksaray University Faculty of Medicine with a protocol number of 2023/08–04 and conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practices. The Ethics Committee waived the requirement for informed consent due to the retrospective nature of the study.

Data availability statement

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.