Red blood cell distribution width is not correlated with preeclampsia among pregnant Sudanese women

Gasim I Gasim,Duria A Rayis,Hala Abdullahi,Ameer Osman,Abdulmutalab M Imam,Ishag Adam

doi:10.1186/1746-1596-9-29

Gasim I Gasim, Duria A Rayis + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-1596-9-29

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Journal: Diagnostic Pathology	Publication Date: Feb 5, 2014
Citations: 50	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Qassim University, University of Khartoum

Abstract

BackgroundPreeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide. The exact etiology of preeclampsia is unknown, but the inflammatory process is postulated as one of the etiologies. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of anisocytosis (variation of red cell size) and is associated with hypertension and diabetic ketoacidosis. There are few data on the association between RDW and preeclampsia. This study aimed to investigate the association between RDW and preeclampsia.MethodsA case–control study was conducted at Khartoum Hospital, Sudan, during June to August 2012. Cases were women with preeclampsia and healthy women were controls. Sociodemographic characteristics, obstetrics, and clinical data were recorded. The complete blood count, including RDW, was measured using an automated hematology analyzer.ResultsThe cases and controls (65 women in each arm) were matched in their basic characteristics. There was no difference in the mean (SD) RDW between women with preeclampsia and controls (14.5 ± 1.8% vs. 14.4 ± 1.4%, P = 0.710). There was also no difference in the mean RDW between women with mild and severe preeclampsia (14.7 ± 1.9% vs. 13.9 ± 1.4%, P = 0.144. In logistic regression, there was no association between RDW and preeclampsia (OR = 0.9, CI = 0.7–1.1, P = 0.952).ConclusionsRDW levels are not associated with the presence or severity of preeclampsia.Virtual slidesThe virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1206247718115175

Highlights

Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide
There was no difference in the mean (SD) Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) between women with preeclampsia and controls 14.5 ± 1.8% vs. 14.4 ± 1.4%, P = 0.710, Figure 1)
There was no association between RDW and preeclampsia.There was no correlation between RDW and systolic blood pressure, Figure 3

Summary

Introduction

Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide. The exact etiology of preeclampsia is unknown, but the inflammatory process is postulated as one of the etiologies. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of anisocytosis (variation of red cell size) and is associated with hypertension and diabetic ketoacidosis. There are few data on the association between RDW and preeclampsia. This study aimed to investigate the association between RDW and preeclampsia. The exact underlying pathology for the development of preeclampsia is not yet completely understood. Placental pathology causing preeclampsia has been suggested, with inadequate cytotrophoblast invasion and widespread maternal endothelial dysfunction [2]. Increased erythropoietic stimulation associated with underlying placental hypoxia has been observed in preeclampsia [3]. Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a parameter, which is usually evaluated in a fully automated hematology analyzer, as part of the complete blood count. RDW is a marker of anisocytosis (red cell size variation). RDW can reflect early changes in red blood cells, and these are accompanied by iron deficiency anemia, and have been shown to have a high sensitivity at detecting anemia [4,5]

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