Inflammatory response, plasma albumin, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, and packed cell volume in relationship with the degree of anemia and gestational age in HbAA anemic pregnant women

Abstract

Background: Anemia in pregnancy which may be mild, moderate, or severe is a common physiological disorder that can lead to poor pregnancy outcome which may be primary or secondary to problems associated with hepatic, renal, and immune system which may be indicated by alterations in packed cell volume (PCV), alanine transaminase, albumin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and creatinine. This work is, therefore, designed to determine inflammatory response, plasma albumin, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and PCV in relationship with the degree of anemia and gestational age in anemic pregnant women. Methods: Two hundred (200) HbAA anemic pregnant women and 100 nonanemic pregnant women were recruited as test and control subjects, respectively. All subjects were negative to HIV-Ag-Ab, acid-fast bacillus (AFB)-Ziehl–Neelsen, Plasmodium, anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) tests. HIV-Ag-Ab, TNF-α, anti-HCV, and HBeAg were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; AFB by Ziehl–Neelsen staining; Plasmodium by thick-film Giemsa staining; hemoglobin types by hemoglobin electrophoresis; albumin, creatinine, and ALT by auto-chemistry analysis using COBAS C11; and PCV by microhematocrit tube method. Results: Eighteen percent (36) of the anemic pregnant women had severe anemia whereas 82% (164) had moderate anemia. The results obtained showed a significant increase in the plasma value of TNF-α and a decrease in the PCV in anemic pregnant women compared with the results obtained in the nonanemic pregnant women (P