FIRST-TRIMESTER NEUTROPHIL-TO-LYMPHOCYTE AND PLATELET-TO-LYMPHOCYTE RATIOS AS INDICATORS FOR EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF PREECLAMPSIA

Abstract

Background: Preeclampsia is a popular obstetric complication. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have gained notable attention as systemic inflammatory response indicators in diverse clinical settings. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic worth NLR and PLR during the first trimester of gestation to forecast the subsequent occurrence of preeclampsia. Patients and methods: The present study was a prospective cohort study that enrolled 300 pregnant ladies. Initial CBC was done for all eligible cases at 7-14 weeks of gestation then cases were followed up till delivery. Results: The results showed progressively statistically increase in the mean NLR in PE cases compared to control cases and a statistically significant difference between the control and PE cases s regard PLR. Cut off value 1.7538 NLR can differentiate normotensive pregnant women from preeclampsia women with sensitivity of 86.5 %, specificity of 91.6% %, PPV of 64 %, and NPV of 97.5 %. However, PLR can differentiate normotensive pregnant women from preeclampsia women at a cut off value 80.70 with sensitivity of 81.1 %, specificity of 95.1 %, PPV of 28.6 %, and NPV of 64.6 %. Conclusion: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and platelet to lymphocyte ratios is cheap, simple, rapid, and readily accessible marker that may be beneficial to predict preeclampsia in early pregnancy. Hence, these easy applicable parameters can be applied as low-cost predictive factors for the development of PE.