Zehra Vural Yılmaz1, Elif Yılmaz2, Tuncay Küçüközkan2. 1. Dr. Sami Ulus Women's and Children's Health Training and Research Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: zehravural@gmail.com. 2. Dr. Sami Ulus Women's and Children's Health Training and Research Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Preeclampsia is a serious disease and a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a measure of anisocytosis, is used as an inflammation marker in hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Although the relationship between RDW and hypertension has been well documented, the association between preeclampsia and RDW is not clear. We aimed to investigate the relationship between RDW and preeclampsia and its severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred eighteen pregnant women with preeclampsia and one hundred twenty uncomplicated pregnant women were included in the study. Blood samples for routine CBC and RDW levels were analyzed. RESULTS: The RDW values were significantly higher in preeclampsia group compared with the control group (15.23±1.96 vs 14.48±1.70, p<0.05). We also confirmed that RDW levels were significantly higher in severe preeclampsia group than mild preeclampsia group in subgroup analyses (15.08±2.07, 15.92±1.99, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that there is an association between RDW and preeclampsia and also its severity. RDW, a marker which is easy, inexpensive and calculated as a part of blood cell count, can be used as a significant diagnostic and prognostic marker in patient with preeclampsia like the other cardiovascular diseases.
OBJECTIVE: Preeclampsia is a serious disease and a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a measure of anisocytosis, is used as an inflammation marker in hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Although the relationship between RDW and hypertension has been well documented, the association between preeclampsia and RDW is not clear. We aimed to investigate the relationship between RDW and preeclampsia and its severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred eighteen pregnant women with preeclampsia and one hundred twenty uncomplicated pregnant women were included in the study. Blood samples for routine CBC and RDW levels were analyzed. RESULTS: The RDW values were significantly higher in preeclampsia group compared with the control group (15.23±1.96 vs 14.48±1.70, p<0.05). We also confirmed that RDW levels were significantly higher in severe preeclampsia group than mild preeclampsia group in subgroup analyses (15.08±2.07, 15.92±1.99, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that there is an association between RDW and preeclampsia and also its severity. RDW, a marker which is easy, inexpensive and calculated as a part of blood cell count, can be used as a significant diagnostic and prognostic marker in patient with preeclampsia like the other cardiovascular diseases.