First trimester complete blood cell indices in early and late onset preeclampsia

Epicardial adipose tissue thickness associated with preeclampsia and birth weight in early pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

Preeclampsia (PE) increases the risk of many adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. This study was to investigate the correlation between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness and PE and birth weight.

METHODS

This was a single-center retrospective study, 221 patients with PE were selected, and 81 women without hypertension and proteinuria were selected as a comparison. Echocardiogram was performed in their first prenatal examinations at 11-13 gestational weeks, and the thickness of EAT was measured. At the subsequent follow-up, the birth weight was recorded.

RESULTS

EAT thickness was significantly elevated (6.60 ± 1.34 vs. 5.71 ± 1.79 mm, p < 0.001) in severe PE compared to mild PE. In the multivariate analysis, EAT thickness (OR 5.671, 95% CI, 1.991-16.150, p = 0.001), and C reactive protein (OR 4.097, 95% CI, 2.323-7.224, p < 0.001) were found as significant independent predictors of severe PE after adjusting for other risk factors. Linear regression analysis showed that hs-CRP, EAT thickness, and severe PE significantly negatively affected birth weight.

CONCLUSION

EAT thickness can be used to identify pregnant women with severe PE risks and low birth weight. It is an independent risk factor for severe PE but is not a valuable sign of mild PE.

The interval between the onset of increased blood pressure and proteinuria in preeclampsia and the contributing factors

PURPOSE

New-onset proteinuria, as a pivotal sign of representative renal lesions in preeclampsia, is still the most common diagnostic tool for this condition and has been proven to be related to a significantly abnormal sFlt-1/VEGF ratio in circulation. At the same time, blood pressure control plays a vital role in the occurrence and evolution of proteinuria. Therefore, it is particularly helpful to investigate their interval, not only for performing urinalysis for protein more accurately but also for evaluating blood pressure as well as the aggravation of illness, as the related research is limited.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 515 preeclampsia patients and 358 normotensive pregnant women who labored in the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from January 2016 to January 2020. First, we described the onset circumstance of high blood pressure and proteinuria as well as the interval among the case group and the subgroups. Then, we determined whether there were significant differences in the basic information, laboratory test results, and newborns between the case and normal groups. Finally, multifactor ANOVA was used to determine the factors influencing the interval.

RESULTS

1. The two most common complications in preeclampsia were proteinuria (88.35%) and placental dysfunction (5.05%). Moreover, 72.04% of preeclampsia cases were diagnosed by abnormal blood pressure together with new-onset proteinuria. 2. The average interval between high blood pressure and proteinuria was 22 gestational days (from 0 to 106 days), and this interval was not significantly different between mild and severe PE (26 days vs. 21 days, P > 0.05) but significantly differed between early-onset and late-onset PE (9 days vs. 28 days, P < 0.05). 3. The number of prenatal visits, serum creatinine in the early trimester, gestational time and diastolic blood pressure value when increased blood pressure was initially detected may influence the interval between the onset of increased blood pressure and proteinuria.

CONCLUSION

New-onset proteinuria was still the main parameter for identifying preeclampsia. The interval between increased blood pressure and proteinuria was probably related to the imbalance in the sFlt-1/VEGF ratio; therefore, we should pay attention to monitor proteinuria during the prenatal visits, especially for patients with a lower frequency of prenatal visits, higher serum creatinine in the early trimester, earlier onset and higher diastolic blood pressure at the initial onset of increased blood pressure.

Prognostic value of systemic immune-inflammation index in the diagnosis of preeclampsia

Background

Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy with negative consequences for the mother and fetus. It was aimed to investigate whether the systemic immune inflammation index is a parameter that will facilitate the diagnosis of preeclampsia.

Methods

This retrospective and single-center study included patients diagnosed with preeclampsia after admission to the emergency department and those who met the inclusion criteria. Vital parameters, demographic data, medical history, white blood cell count, platelet count, neutrophil count, systemic immune-inflammation index values, biochemical parameters, and gestational weeks were analyzed in each patient.

Results

A total of 40 patients with preeclampsia (preeclampsia group) and 40 normal pregnant women (control group) were included. Laboratory tests revealed that the mean WBC, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts were significantly higher in the preeclampsia group than in the control group, whereas the preeclampsia group had a significantly lower mean platelet count than the control group (p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity for the cut-off value of 758.39 × 109/L systemic immune-inflammation index in pregnant patients with preeclampsia was 77.5% and 67.5%, respectively (AUC: 0.705; 95% CI: 0.587-0.823; p = 0.002). No significant difference was observed between the mean neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in preeclampsia diagnosis.

Conclusion

The systemic immune-inflammation index may be used as a marker to help in establishing the diagnosis of preeclampsia. We believe that this index is an important prognostic indicator because it concurrently evaluates neutrophil and lymphocyte values-which indicate the inflammation process-and platelet count, i.e., an indicator of coagulopathy.

Association of systemic inflammation index with psoriasis risk and psoriasis severity: A retrospective cohort study of NHANES 2009 to 2014

To investigate the association of systemic inflammation index (SII) with psoriasis risk and psoriasis severity. This is a retrospective cohort study based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database from 2009 to 2014. The psoriasis information was obtained from the questionnaire data, and the SII was calculated as neutrophil × platelet/lymphocyte. We performed matching by controlling age and gender to reach a 1:2 ratio for better statistical power. Weighted logistic regression analysis, subgroup analysis, restricted cubic spline analysis, and threshold analysis were used to evaluate the association of SII with psoriasis risk. Besides, mediation analysis was conducted to assess the possible regulatory path. Finally, the receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted to analyze the predictive value of SII for psoriasis severity. The study involved 16,466 participants including 16,020 no-psoriasis participants and 446 psoriasis participants. After matching, psoriasis and non-psoriasis individuals were 446 and 892, respectively. SII was significantly higher in the psoriasis group than the non-psoriasis group (P < .05). Additionally, white blood cells and monocytes were significantly linked to psoriasis risk and SII scores (P < .05). Besides, SII elevation was an independent predictor for upregulated psoriasis risk (P < .05). There was a nonlinear relationship between SII and psoriasis risk (P nonlinear < .05), which was not mediated by white blood cells and monocytes. Unexpectedly, SII had no significance in predicting SII severity (P > .05). SII can independently predict psoriasis risk but has no impact on psoriasis severity. Further, SII serves as a potential and robust biomarker for identifying high-risk psoriasis individuals.

Is platelet to lymphocyte ratio predictive of preeclampsia? A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the value of the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in predicting preeclampsia (PE) in pregnant women.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science databases were searched for observational studies (cohort, case-control or cross-sectional) that reported pre-treatment maternal PLR values in women with and without PE. The analysis was done using a random effects model. Pooled effect sizes were reported as weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the risk of bias.

RESULTS

Twenty-five studies with 7755 patients were included in this meta-analysis. PLR was comparable in patients with PE and healthy pregnant women (WMD -2.97; 95% CI: -11.95 to 6.02; N = 16). Patients with mild (WMD -3.00; 95% CI: -17.40 to 11.41; N = 12) and severe PE (WMD -5.77; 95% CI: -25.48 to 13.94; N = 14) had statistically similar PLR, compared to healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings show similar PLR in PE and healthy pregnancies. PLR, therefore, may not be used to differentiate between PE and normal pregnancy or for assessing the severity of PE. The majority of included studies were case-control, potentially introducing bias, and we identified evidence of publication bias as well.

Efficacy of blood parameters in predicting the severity of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia

The aim of this retrospective study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of APRI, DNI, NLR, PLR, and PDW in predicting the severity of gestational hypertension (GHT) and PE and to determine whether these factors can be used as screening tools. Normotensive pregnant women (n = 792) served as the control group. 1,213 single pregnant women who met the following criteria for a GHT diagnosis were included in the study group. We found a significantly higher mean PLR and NLR value. The mean PDW value was significantly lower in the control group than in the other groups. The SPE group had a significantly higher mean APRI score. The groups did not differ by their DNI. We determined PDW and APRI as independent parameters that predicted SPE by multiple logistic regression analysis. In retrospective analysis of blood samples taken from these participants below week 20, we found that the APRI value differed significantly between the control and SPE groups. NLR, PLR, DNI, and PDW had no clinical significance. We further suggested that APRI may provide a clinical indication of progression from hypertensive pregnancy disorders to SPE, which seems to be a promising implication that should be verified by further studies.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Screening pregnant women for risk factors for developing hypertensive disorders and identifying women at high risk in early pregnancy and initiating prophylactic treatment are important for pregnancy monitoring and planning in experienced centres. Because only 30% of women who will develop preeclampsia can be predicted by risk factors, the combined use of laboratory tests and imaging with risk factors to calculate a woman's risk of developing preeclampsia is currently being investigated. However, no proven marker has yet been found.What do the results of this study add? In our study, we found that NLR, PLR, DNI, and PDW have no clinical significance in assessing the risk of developing gestational hypertension and preeclampsia and in predicting the severity of preeclampsia. However, in our study, we found that APRI can provide a clinical indication of the progression of hypertensive pregnancy to SPE.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This study represents an important contribution to the literature because it is the first study to examine the association between APRI and HT in pregnancy.

Maternal birth weight as an indicator of early-onset and late-onset hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: The Japan Environment and Children's study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal birth weight (MBW) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) according to the gestational age when HDP develops.

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 77,345 subjects were included in this prospective birth cohort study. The association between MBW and HDP was investigated by a multinomial logistic regression model.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Early-onset HDP (EO-HDP), preterm late-onset HDP (preterm LO-HDP), and term late-onset HDP (term LO-HDP).

RESULTS

Lower MBW was associated with higher odds of preterm and term LO-HDP (p-values for trend < 0.0001 and = 0.0005, respectively). A linear association between MBW and EO-HDP was observed (p-values for trend = 0.0496). The shape of the association between MBW and preterm LO-HDP was a combination of the associations between MBW with EO-HDP or LO-HDP. The effect size of the association between MBW < 2,500 g and EO-HDP was lower than that of MBW < 2,500 g with preterm or term LO-HDP. The adjusted odds ratios for EO-HDP, preterm LO-HDP, and term LO-HDP in subjects with MBW < 2,500 g were 1.052 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.665-1.664), 1.745 (95 % CI: 1.220-2.496), and 1.496 (95 % CI: 1.154-1.939), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

MBW was associated with HDP, regardless of gestational age when HDP developed. Furthermore, the association of MBW < 2,500 g with preterm or term LO-HDP was stronger than that with EO-HDP.

The role of first trimester eosinophil count and eosinophil-based complete blood cell indices in the predictiction of preeclampsia: A case-control study

INTRODUCTION

The importance of eosinophils in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia is an question of interest and there are recent studies in the literature indicating significantly lower eosinophil count values in pregnant women with preeclampsia. The present study aims to evaluate the utility of first-trimester eosinophil count and eosinophil-based complete blood cell count indices in the prediction of preeclampsia.

METHODS

Pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia (n = 281) were retrospectively compared with a control group (n = 307). The utility of first trimester eosinophil count, neutrophil to eosinophil ratio (NER) (neutrophil/eosinophil), leukocyte to eosinophil ratio (LER) (leukocyte/eosinophil), eosinophil to monocyte ratio (EMR) (eosinophil/monocyte) and, eosinophil to lymphocyte ratio (ELR) (eosinophil/lymphocyte) in the prediction of preeclampsia were evaluated.

RESULTS

Optimal cut-off values for eosinophil count, NER, LER, EMR and, ELR in predicting preeclampsia were 0.07 (AUC: 0.62, 58.7% sensitivity, 56.4% specificity), 90.9 (AUC: 0.65, 61.1% sensitivity, 59.4% specificity), 125.7 (AUC: 0.64, 61.4% sensitivity, 58.4% specificity), 0.15 (AUC: 0.63, 60.1% sensitivity, 59.6% specificity) and, 0.03 (AUC: 0.62, 60.9% sensitivity, 57% specificity), respectively. Mentioned values in predicting early-onset preeclampsia were 0.07 (AUC: 0.64, 60.5% sensitivity, 50.8% specificity), 102.1 (AUC: 0.64, 62.4% sensitivity, 58.8% specificity), 140.2 (AUC: 0.65, 63.5% sensitivity, 59.1% soecificity), 0.14 (AUC: 0.66, 66.3% sensitivity, 59.2% specificity), and, 0.03 (AUC: 0.63, 60.5% sensitivity, 57.4% specificity), respectively. The optimal cut-off value for EMR in the prediction of preeclampsia with severe features was 0.16 (AUC: 0.56, 56.9% sensitivity, 53.2% specificity).

DISCUSSION

Eosinophil-based complete blood count indices may be used to predict early-onset preeclampsia with relatively low sensitivity and specificity.

Clinical value of mean platelet volume in predicting and diagnosing pre-eclampsia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a severe pregnancy complication. Thrombocytopenia and platelet dysfunction are common hematology disorders in PE. Previous studies considered mean platelet volume (MPV), a functional marker of platelets, as a potentially useful predictor for the diagnosis of PE.

Methods

PubMed, China Biomedical Literature Database, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Embase, Wanfang, VIP, and Cochrane Library databases were searched to gather diagnostic trials evaluating the diagnosis of PE using MPV, from their inception to 13 March 2023. We also searched Google Scholar and Baidu.

Results

A total of 22 studies from 20 articles were found. The pooled diagnostic accuracy of the MPV for PE recognition was as follows: sensitivity (SEN) 0.676 [95% confidence interval (CI) (0.658-0.694)], specificity (SPE) 0.710 [95% CI (0.703-0.717)], and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) 7.012 [95% CI (4.226-11.636)], and the SROC-AUC and Q* indices were 0.7889 and 0.7262, respectively. The pooled SEN, SPE, and DOR of the diagnostic accuracy of MPV for PE before 16 weeks of gestation were 0.707 [95% CI (0.670-0.743)], 0.639 [95% CI (0.611-0.667)], and 4.026 [95% CI (2.727-5.943)], and the SROC-AUC and Q* indices were 0.7278 and 0.6753, respectively. For the interval of truncation values between 9 and 10 fl, the SROC-AUC and Q* indices for MPV were 0.8856 and 0.8162, respectively.

Conclusions

Available evidence suggests that MPV has a moderate predictive and diagnostic value for PE, particularly in diagnosing after 20 weeks of gestation. The diagnostic accuracy is higher when the MPV cut-off falls between 9 and 10 fl. The sensitivity of MPV alone in diagnosing PE is not high, and the combination of other markers for predictive diagnosis may better differentiate PE.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023425154, identifier: CRD42023425154.

Clinical implication of platelet to lymphocyte ratio in early onset preeclampsia: A single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy syndrome of undetermined etiology; inflammation was one of the proposed theories for its development.

AIM

To examine the platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), an inflammatory biomarker, as a marker to predict poor maternal-neonatal outcomes in early-onset PE (EoPE).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study enrolled 60 pregnant women with EoPE (at 32-30 wk of gestation) at a university hospital. Demographic criteria and hematological indices were collected, including platelet counts and indices (mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width), PLR, and the Doppler study, which calculated estimated fetal weight (EFW), amniotic fluid index (AFI), resistance index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI). Participants were followed until delivery, where maternal outcomes were recorded, including; delivery mode and reason for cesarean section, and neonatal outcomes, including fetal growth restriction (FGR), meconium-stained liquid, the 5-min Apgar score, and admission to the intensive care unit.

RESULTS

There was a trend of insignificant increases in cesarean sections. Sixty-one-point two percent (37/60) fetuses were admitted to the neonatal care unit; 70.0% of admitted fetuses were meconium-stained liquor, and 56.7% of them had FGR. PLR was positively correlated with AFI and EFW as r = 0.98, 0.97, P < 0.001; PLR showed negative correlations with PI and RI as r = -0.99, -0.98, P < 0.001. The Apgar score and the number of days admitted to the intensive care unit had a positive and negative correlation (0.69, -0.98), P < 0.0001, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic calculated a PLR cutoff value (7.49) that distinguished FGR at 100% sensitivity and 80% specificity.

CONCLUSION

Strong, meaningful relationships between PLR and FGR parameters and a poor neonatal outcome with a significant P value make it a recommendable biomarker for screening EoPE-related complications. Further studies are suggested to see the impact on maternal-neonatal health.

Assessing the Relationship between Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index and Metabolic Syndrome in Children with Obesity

Childhood obesity represents a worldwide concern as many countries have reported an increase in its incidence, with possible cardiovascular long-term implications. The mechanism that links cardiovascular disease to obesity is related to low-grade inflammation. We designed this study to investigate the diagnostic utility of inflammatory indices (NLR, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; PLR, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio; SII, systemic immune-inflammation index; SIRI, systemic inflammation response index) in obese children with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and their relationship with cardiometabolic risk biomarkers, such as the Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG:HDL-C), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C). A total of 191 obese children from one large Romanian reference center was included in the study. Patients were classified in two groups according to the presence (MetS group) or absence (non-MetS group) of metabolic syndrome. According to our results, the SII index proved to have diagnostic value in distinguishing MetS patients among children with obesity (AUC = 0.843, a sensitivity of 0.83, and a specificity of 0.63). Furthermore, the SII was positively associated with cardiometabolic risk biomarkers (HOMA-IR, p < 0.001; TG:HDL-C, p = 0.002; non-HDL-C, p = 0.021), highlighting its possible role as an additional measure of cardiometabolic instability in obese children.

Innate and Adaptive Immune Systems in Physiological and Pathological Pregnancy

The dynamic immunological changes occurring throughout pregnancy are well-orchestrated and important for the success of the pregnancy. One of the key immune adaptations is the maternal immune tolerance towards the semi-allogeneic fetus. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of what is known about the innate and adaptive immunological changes in pregnancy and the role(s) of specific immune cells during physiological and pathological pregnancy. Alongside this, we provided details of remaining questions and challenges, as well as future perspectives for this growing field of research. Understanding the immunological changes that occur can inform potential strategies on treatments for the optimal health of the neonate and pregnant individual both during and after pregnancy.

The Role Of Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index In The Severity Of Hyperemesis Gravidarum

BACKGROUND

Hyperemesis gravidarum(HEG) is one of the severe health problems in early pregnancy. Obstetricians should be aware of systemic inflammation in HEG patients to provide better preventive strategies.

AIM

Hyperemesis gravidarum(HEG) is one of the most common causes of hospitalization in early pregnancy. Complete blood count parameters can be used as inflammatory markers in patients with HEG. We aimed to investigate the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII)in predicting the severity of HEG.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed with 469 pregnant women diagnosed and hospitalized with HEG. The study parameters were calculated from complete blood count tests and urine analysis. Demographic characteristics, the Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis (PUQE) scale values, and ketonuria levels at hospital admission were recorded. The neutrophil‑to‑lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet‑to‑lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and SII, calculated by the formula (neutrophil × platelet/lymphocyte), were evaluated for predicting the severity of HEG.

RESULTS

There was a positive correlation between the increased degree of ketonuria and SII. The cut-off value of SII for predicting the severity of HEG was 1071.8 (AUC 0.637, 95% CI (0.582-0.693), p<.001), and sensitivity and specificity were 59% and 59%, respectively. The cut-off value of SII to predict the length of hospitalization was 1073.6(AUC: 0.565, 95% CI: (0.501-0.628), p= 0.039); sensitivity and specificity were 56.3% and 55.5%, respectively CONCLUSIONS: : The clinical utility of SII in predicting HEG severity is limited due to relatively low sensitivity and specificity. Further research is needed to determine the importance of inflammatory indices in HEG patients.

Pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is a life-threatening disease of pregnancy unique to humans and a leading cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Women who survive pre-eclampsia have reduced life expectancy, with increased risks of stroke, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, while babies from a pre-eclamptic pregnancy have increased risks of preterm birth, perinatal death and neurodevelopmental disability and cardiovascular and metabolic disease later in life. Pre-eclampsia is a complex multisystem disease, diagnosed by sudden-onset hypertension (>20 weeks of gestation) and at least one other associated complication, including proteinuria, maternal organ dysfunction or uteroplacental dysfunction. Pre-eclampsia is found only when a placenta is or was recently present and is classified as preterm (delivery <37 weeks of gestation), term (delivery ≥37 weeks of gestation) and postpartum pre-eclampsia. The maternal syndrome of pre-eclampsia is driven by a dysfunctional placenta, which releases factors into maternal blood causing systemic inflammation and widespread maternal endothelial dysfunction. Available treatments target maternal hypertension and seizures, but the only 'cure' for pre-eclampsia is delivery of the dysfunctional placenta and baby, often prematurely. Despite decades of research, the aetiology of pre-eclampsia, particularly of term and postpartum pre-eclampsia, remains poorly defined. Significant advances have been made in the prediction and prevention of preterm pre-eclampsia, which is predicted in early pregnancy through combined screening and is prevented with daily low-dose aspirin, starting before 16 weeks of gestation. By contrast, the prediction of term and postpartum pre-eclampsia is limited and there are no preventive treatments. Future research must investigate the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia, in particular of term and postpartum pre-eclampsia, and evaluate new prognostic tests and treatments in adequately powered clinical trials.

Coagulation Factors and Natural Anticoagulants as Surrogate Markers of Preeclampsia and Its Subtypes: A Case-Control Study in a Ghanaian Population

Preeclampsia (PE) is associated with endothelial injury and hemostatic abnormalities. However, the diagnostic role of coagulation parameters and natural anticoagulants in predicting PE has not been explored in Ghana. This study assessed plasma levels of these factors as surrogate markers of PE and its subtypes. This case-control study included 90 women with PE (cases) and 90 normotensive pregnant women (controls). Blood samples were drawn for the estimation of complete blood count and coagulation tests. The prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and the calculation of the international normalized ratio (INR) were determined by an ACL elite coagulometer while the levels of protein C (PC), protein S (PS), antithrombin III (ATIII), and D-dimers were also measured using the solid-phase sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. All statistical analyses were performed using the R Language for Statistical Computing. Results showed significantly (p < .05) shortened APTT (28.25 s) and higher D-dimer levels (1219.00 ng/mL) among PE women, as well as low levels of PC (1.02 µg/mL), PS (6.58 µg/mL), and ATIII (3.99 ng/mL). No significant difference was found in terms of PT and INR. From the receiver operating characteristic analysis, PC, PS, and ATIII could significantly predict PE and its subtypes at certain cutoffs with high accuracies (area under the curve [AUC] ≥0.70). Most women with PE are in a hypercoagulable state with lower natural anticoagulants. PC, PS, and ATIII are good predictive and diagnostic markers of PE and its subtypes (early-onset PE [EO-PE] and late-onset PE [LO-PE]) and should be explored in future studies.

Detecting Preeclampsia Severity Using Maternal-Obstetrical Characteristics and Complete Blood Cell Counts

Purpose

This study aimed to use the combination of maternal-obstetrical characteristics (MOCs) and complete blood cell counts (CBCs) with different red blood cell (RBC) indices as an alternative tool to detect preeclampsia (PE) severity immediately before delivery.

Patients and Methods

This retrospective study included all singleton pregnancies delivered after 24 weeks of gestation from April 2016 to April 2020. Patients were divided into four different groups: non-hypertensive (NH), gestational hypertension (GH), PE, and severe PE (SPE). Univariate and forward stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted using MOCs, CBCs, and RBC indices. The calculation was performed between SPE and other non-hypertensive and hypertensive (GH, PE) groups. Moreover, the area under the curve (AUC) for the receiver operating characteristic curve, sensitivity, and specificity were estimated.

Results

The combined variables for differentiating SPE from NH were maternal age >29.5 years, weight >27.24, gestational age <272 days at the time of blood withdrawal, platelet count <217.5×103/μL, Srivastava indices <6.35, and Siradah indices <43.02 (AUC, 0.834; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.773-0.895). The combined variables for differentiating SPE from GH were maternal age >29.5 years, body mass index >25.28, gestational age <268.5 days at the time of blood withdrawal, mean corpuscular volume <78.85 fL, and platelet count <234.5×103/μL (AUC, 0777; 95% CI, 0.703-0.852). The combined variables for differentiating SPE from PE were maternal age >32.5 years, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration >34.55 g/dL, and Siradah indices <40.05 (AUC, 0.745; 95% CI, 0.656-0.833).

Conclusion

The combination of selected variables from MOCs and CBCs with RBC indices before delivery showed satisfactory results for detecting PE severity.

The value of eosinophil count in the diagnosis of preeclampsia among pregnant women attending the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021

BACKGROUND

Currently, studies showed that eosinophil count had clinical significance in the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases. But, the clinical significance of eosinophil count in pregnancy specifically in preeclampsia (PE) is not well studied. The main objective of the present study was to assess the diagnosis value of eosinophils counts among pregnant women with PE.

METHODS

A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 126 pregnant women at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, using a convenient sampling technique. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected by questionnaire and datasheet from patient's charts, respectively. A total of six ml of blood was collected from each study participant; three ml for complete cell count analysis using Sysmex XS-500i hematology analyzer and three ml for liver function tests using Humastar 200 chemistry analyzer. The data were entered into Epi-data and exported to SPSS 20 for analysis. The independent t-test was used for normally distributed data and, the Mann-Whitney U test was used for non-normally distributed data. Binary logistic regression and receiver operative curve analyses were also done to assess the diagnosis value of eosinophils count. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The eosinophils count of PE pregnant women were significantly lower than the normotensive (NT) pregnant women (median (IQR): 50 (10-200) vs. 120 (60 - 270); (p = 0.002). The eosinophil count ≤ 55 cells/µL had an AUC of 0.66 (95% CI; 0.56-0.75) for diagnosis of PE with a sensitivity of 50.8%, specificity of 77.8%, and positive and negative predictive value of 69.6% and 61.3%, respectively. The abnormal AST and ALT results were significantly higher among PE pregnant women compared to NT pregnant women (AOR: 14.86; 95% CI: 4.97-44.4 and Fischer exact test p-value = 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The eosinophil count ≤ 55cells/µl had a reasonable/acceptable AUC which may use in the diagnosis of PE. AST and ALT were also significantly higher in PE pregnant women compared to NT pregnant women. Multicenter longitudinal studies with a large sample size are recommended to verify the role of eosinophil count in the diagnosis of PE.

Establishment of a nomogram model for predicting adverse outcomes in advanced-age pregnant women with preterm preeclampsia

Aim

To establish a model for predicting adverse outcomes in advanced-age pregnant women with preterm preeclampsia in China.

Methods

We retrospectively collected the medical records of 896 pregnant women with preterm preeclampsia who were older than 35 years and delivered at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from June 2018 to December 2020. The pregnant women were divided into an adverse outcome group and a non-adverse outcome group according to the occurrence of adverse outcomes. The data were divided into a training set and a verification set at a ratio of 8:2. A nomogram model was developed according to a binary logistic regression model created to predict the adverse outcomes in advanced-age pregnant women with preterm preeclampsia. ROC curves and their AUCs were used to evaluate the predictive ability of the model. The model was internally verified by using 1000 bootstrap samples, and a calibration diagram was drawn.

Results

Binary logistic regression analysis showed that platelet count (PLT), uric acid (UA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), prothrombin time (PT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were the factors that independently influenced adverse outcomes (P < 0.05). The AUCs of the internal and external verification of the model were 0.788 (95% CI: 0.737 ~ 0.764) and 0.742 (95% CI: 0.565 ~ 0.847), respectively. The calibration curve was close to the diagonal.

Conclusions

The model we constructed can accurately predict the risk of adverse outcomes of pregnant women of advanced age with preterm preeclampsia, providing corresponding guidance and serving as a basis for preventing adverse outcomes and improving clinical treatment and maternal and infant prognosis.

An exploratory study of white blood cell proportions across preeclamptic and normotensive pregnancy by self-identified race in individuals with overweight or obesity

Objective: Examine white blood cell (WBC) proportions across preeclamptic (n = 28 cases) and normotensive (n = 28 controls) pregnancy in individuals with overweight/obesity.Methods: WBC proportions were inferred from genome-wide DNA methylation data and compared by case/control status and self-identified race.Results: In Trimester 1, ean B cell proportions were suggestively lower in cases in the overall sample and significantly lower in White participants but not in Black participants. More significant WBC proportion changes were observed across normotensive than preeclamptic pregnancy.Conclusions: These findings in a small sample demonstrate need for additional studies investigating the relationship between self-identified race and WBCs in pregnancy.

The utility of systemic-immune inflammation index for predicting the disease activation in patients with psoriasis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the utility of systemic-immune inflammation index (SII) in the management of patients with psoriasis.

METHOD

This retrospective case-control study was conducted on patients who were admitted to the dermatology outpatient clinic. Patients with psoriasis (n = 71) were compared with a age and gender-matched control group (n = 70) with other non-inflammatory dermatologic diseases. Study and control groups were compared in terms of clinical characteristics and SII values (neutrophil X platelet/lymphocyte). Afterwards, 50th percentile value (4.5) for psoriasis area severity index (PASI) was calculated for the study group. Two subgroups were formed according to PASI values: (1) PASI < 4.5 group (n = 36) and (2) PASI ≥ 4.5 (n = 35). Clinical characteristics and SII values were also compared between these two subgroups. Furthermore, SII values were compared according to the presence of scalp, joint, nail, and genital area involvement in the study group. Finally, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed in order to assess the performance of SII in determining the activation of psoriasis in the study group.

RESULTS

Significantly higher SII values were found in patients with psoriasis. PASI ≥ 4.5 subgroup and patients with nail and genital involvement had also significantly higher SII values (P < .05). A cut-off value of 575.8 was calculated with 66.7% sensitivity and 66% specificity for psoriasis activation.

CONCLUSION

SII may be used for the prediction of psoriasis activation.

Platelet counts during normal pregnancies and pregnancies complicated with hypertensive disorders

OBJECTIVES

To determine the trajectories of platelet counts and the prevalence of gestational thrombocytopenia (<150 × 10⁹/L) during normal pregnancies and pregnancies with complications, such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), preeclampsia, and fetal growth restriction (FGR).

STUDY DESIGN

A multicenter retrospective study was conducted using laboratory data on women who delivered term singletons at 11 primary maternity care units between 2011 and 2018 (n = 35,045), and non-pregnant women who underwent a medical check-up between 2016 and 2019 (n = 61,189). After 1:1 matching, 28,073 pregnant women and 28,073 non-pregnant women were selected for analysis.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES

The trajectories of platelet counts and prevalence of gestational thrombocytopenia were evaluated in normal pregnant women, pregnant women with complications, and non-pregnant women.

RESULTS

The platelet counts declined throughout pregnancy, with the nadir occurring on postpartum day 1. The platelet counts recovered to the level of the non-pregnant state at postpartum 2-7 days. The mean platelet counts at postpartum day 1 decreased by an estimated 19.8% and 9.7% compared to those in the non-pregnant state and first trimester, respectively. The prevalence of gestational thrombocytopenia in normal pregnant women at 37-41 gestational weeks and in pregnant women with complications of HDP, preeclampsia, and FGR were 6.1%, 7.3%, 17.5%, and 7.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Platelet counts declined throughout pregnancy and recovered to the level of the non-pregnant state in the early postpartum period. Gestational thrombocytopenia is common during normal pregnancy, and its prevalence is significantly higher in women with preeclampsia.

Can complete blood count parameters that change according to trimester in pregnancy be used to predict severe preeclampsia?

We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of changes over time in complete blood count (CBC) parameters to estimate the diagnosis of preeclampsia. Data on 161 severe preeclampsia patients and 161 healthy pregnant patients who met the study criteria of pregnant women whose CBC had been measured at 10-12, 22-24 and 28-30 weeks of pregnancy were compared. In the preeclampsia group, an increase in the mean platelet volume (MPV) value and a decrease in the number of platelets were statistically significant in the transition from the second to the third trimester. MPV and lymphocyte counts were more significant in the third trimester and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were more significant in the second trimester. We found that evaluation of the changes in lymphocyte, MPV and NLR values in three different trimesters of pregnancy rather than a single trimester was more meaningful to predict severe preeclampsia.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? Studies have shown that MPV and NLR can predict preeclampsia. However, a clear cut off value could not be determined. The reasons for this may be that the gestational week during which the measurement is made is not standard and the patient groups are not homogeneous.What the results of this study add? In this study, CBC parameters at different stages of the preeclampsia process were compared in the severe preeclampsia group. According to our results, lymphocytes, NLR and MPV can be used to predict severe preeclampsia. In addition, NLR measurements in the second trimester and MPV and lymphocyte measurements in the third trimester were found to be more significant in predicting severe preeclampsia.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? In order to predict severe preeclampsia, instead of a single measurement of CBC parameters, new calculations should be made that add change over time.

A cutoff value for the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index in determining activity of Behçet disease

BACKGROUND

Behçet disease (BD) is an immune-mediated vasculitis-like syndrome characterized by recurrent aphthous lesions and various systemic manifestations. Inflammatory markers may be useful to assess disease severity. The Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) (neutrophils × platelets/lymphocytes) has been widely used in oncology since 2014, with promising results.

AIM

To assess the efficiency of the SII in determining activity of BD.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients with BD who were admitted to the outpatient clinic of the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Ufuk University Hospital, between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019. Patients were divided into two groups based on their disease status upon admission: (i) active BD (n = 103), and (ii) inactive BD (n = 63). Clinical characteristics, demographic features, type of medications, full blood count parameters, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin and SII were compared between the groups. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to assess the performance of the SII in determining disease severity upon admission to hospital.

RESULTS

Higher numbers of white blood cells, platelets and neutrophils, greater red cell distribution width, higher levels of ESR, CRP and ferritin, and higher SII were observed in the active disease group (P < 0.001). The cutoff value of 552 × 10³ /mm³ was found to have 81% sensitivity and 82% specificity.

CONCLUSION

The SII may be used as an additional indicator for the assessment of BD status and physicians should be cautious in patients with SII levels of > 552 × 10³ /mm³ ) at the initial evaluation of the patients.

Mechanisms of Key Innate Immune Cells in Early- and Late-Onset Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a complex cardiovascular disorder of pregnancy with underlying multifactorial pathogeneses; however, its etiology is not fully understood. It is characterized by the new onset of maternal hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation, accompanied by proteinuria, maternal organ damage, and/or uteroplacental dysfunction. Preeclampsia can be subdivided into early- and late-onset phenotypes (EOPE and LOPE), diagnosed before 34 weeks or from 34 weeks of gestation, respectively. Impaired placental development in early pregnancy and subsequent growth restriction is often associated with EOPE, while LOPE is associated with maternal endothelial dysfunction. The innate immune system plays an essential role in normal progression of physiological pregnancy and fetal development. However, inappropriate or excessive activation of this system can lead to placental dysfunction or poor maternal vascular adaptation and contribute to the development of preeclampsia. This review aims to comprehensively outline the mechanisms of key innate immune cells including macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer (NK) cells, and innate B1 cells, in normal physiological pregnancy, EOPE and LOPE. The roles of the complement system, syncytiotrophoblast extracellular vesicles and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are also discussed in the context of innate immune system regulation and preeclampsia. The outlined molecular mechanisms, which represent potential therapeutic targets, and associated emerging treatments, are evaluated as treatments for preeclampsia. Therefore, by addressing the current understanding of innate immunity in the pathogenesis of EOPE and LOPE, this review will contribute to the body of research that could lead to the development of better diagnosis, prevention, and treatment strategies. Importantly, it will delineate the differences in the mechanisms of the innate immune system in two different types of preeclampsia, which is necessary for a more personalized approach to the monitoring and treatment of affected women.

Evaluation of first-trimester neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio values in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth retardation

Objective:

The objective of this study is to compare the first-trimester hemogram parameters [neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR)] of pregnant women complicated by intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and normal pregnant women.

Materials and Methods:

We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of pregnant women (n=50) complicated with IUGR and pregnant women in the control group (n=50).

Results:

The first-trimester NLR and PLR values of the pregnant women complicated by IUGR were 6.59±1.12 and 117.2±16.00, respectively. The first-trimester NLR and PLR values of the pregnant women in the control group were 2.84±0.55 and 112.80±13.01, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to NLR (p<0.001).

Conclusion:

Pregnancies complicated by IUGR have high neonatal mortality and morbidity rates. Therefore, the early diagnosis of disease and appropriate management are extremely crucial for both fetal and maternal prognoses. High NLR values in the first trimester may contribute to the early diagnosis of IUGR.

A cut-off value for systemic immune-inflammation index in the prediction of adverse neonatal outcomes in preterm premature rupture of the membranes

AIM

To determine a cut-off value for systemic immune-inflammation index (SII)(neutrophil × platelet /lymphocyte) in the prediction of adverse neonatal outcomes in preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM).

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was conducted among singleton pregnancies with PPROM. Cases were divided into two main groups: Group 1) PPROM diagnosed at 24th-28th weeks of gestation and Group 2) PPROM diagnosed at >28th-34th weeks of gestation. Thereafter, main study groups were divided into two subgroups: Subgroup A: pregnancies with favorable neonatal outcomes and Subgroup B: pregnancies with composite adverse neonatal outcomes. Subgroups were compared in terms of demographic features, clinical characteristics, laboratory test results and SII values. Furthermore, cut-off values of SII for the prediction of composite adverse neonatal outcomes were determined for two main groups. A Mann-Whitney U test was conducted to compare the median values and the chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables among the groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the performance of SII value in predicting composite adverse neonatal outcomes.

RESULTS

Significant differences were observed for median platelet and SII values between the subgroups (P < 0.001 for both in group 1 and P = 0.002 and P = 0.005, respectively, in group 2). Cut-off values of 1695.14 10⁹ /L (83.3% sensitivity, 85.7% specificity) and 1430.90 × 10⁹ /L (71.4% sensitivity, 75.7% specificity) for composite adverse neonatal outcomes were determined, respectively in group 1 and 2 according to the ROC curve analysis.

CONCLUSION

SII may be used as an additional indicator for the prediction of adverse neonatal outcomes in PPROM.

Importance of haemogram parameters for prediction of the time of birth in women diagnosed with threatened preterm labour

Objective

This study aimed to estimate the importance of complete blood count parameters for predicting the timing of birth in threatened preterm labour cases.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study of 92 patients who were diagnosed with threatened preterm labour (24–34 gestational weeks). The patients were divided into two groups according to the time of birth (group 1: delivered within the first week after diagnosis; group 2: delivered later than 1 week). We compared characteristics and complete blood count parameters between these two groups.

Results

There were no significant differences in maternal age, body mass index, gravida, parity, haemoglobin levels, and gestational weeks between the two groups. The mean cervical length was 24.24 ± 3.60 mm in group 1 and 30.70 ± 5.32 mm in group 2. There were significant differences in the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, white blood cell count, red cell distribution width (RDW), absolute lymphocyte cell count, and absolute neutrophil cell count between the two groups.

Conclusion

Maternal serum RDW, the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, white blood cell count, absolute lymphocyte cell count, and the absolute neutrophil cell count profile could guide clinicians in predicting the time of birth in threatened preterm labour cases.

Circulating Neutrophils Do Not Predict Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease in Women with Former Preeclampsia

: Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE) represents a hypertensive pregnancy disorder that is associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. This increased risk has been attributed to accelerated atherosclerosis, with inflammation being a major contributor. Neutrophils play an important role in the onset and progression of atherosclerosis and have been associated with vascular damage in the placenta as well as the chronic inflammatory state in women with PE. We therefore investigated whether circulating neutrophil numbers or reactivity were associated with the presence and severity of subclinical atherosclerosis in women with a history of PE.

METHODS

Women aged 45-60 years with a 10 to 20 years earlier history of early onset preeclampsia (delivery <34 weeks of gestation) (n = 90), but without symptomatic CVD burden were screened for the presence of subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD) using both contrast-enhanced and non-contrast coronary CT angiography. Subclinical CAD was defined as a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score ≥100 Agatston Units and/or ≥50% coronary luminal stenosis. We assessed whether the numbers and activity of circulating neutrophils were associated with the presence of subclinical CAD and as secondary outcome measurements, with the presence of any calcium (CAC score > 0 AU) or stenosis, categorized as absent (0%), minimal to mild (>0 and <50%), and moderate to severe (≥50%) narrowing of the coronary artery. Blood was drawn just before CT and neutrophil numbers were assessed by flow cytometry. In addition, the presence of the chemokine receptors CXCR2 and CXCR4, which are known to be instrumental in neutrophil recruitment, and neutrophil activity upon stimulation with the bacterial peptide N-Formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLF) was assessed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Of the participating women, with an average age of 49 years, 13% (12 out of 90) presented with subclinical signs of CAD (CAC score ≥100 AU and/or ≥50% luminal stenosis), and 37% (33 out of 90) had a positive CAC score (>0). Total white blood cell count and neutrophil counts were not associated with the presence of subclinical CAD or with a positive CAC score. When assessing the presence of the chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CXCR2, we observed a slight decrease of neutrophil CXCR2 expression in women with CAC (median MFI 22.0 [interquartile range (IQR) 20.2-23.8]) compared to women without CAC (23.8 [IQR 21.6-25.6], p = 0.02). We observed no differences regarding neutrophil CXCR4 expression. In addition, expression of the early activity marker CD35 was slightly lower on neutrophils of women with subclinical CAD (median MFI 1.6 [IQR 1.5-1.9] compared to 1.9 [IQR 1.7-2.1] in women without CAD, p = 0.02). However, for all findings, statistical significance disappeared after adjustment for multiple testing.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that neutrophil counts and (re)activity are not directly associated with silent CAD disease burden and as such are not suitable as biomarkers to predict the presence of subclinical CAD in a high-risk population of women with a history of preeclampsia.