Role of laboratory investigations to assess maternal and perinatal outcome in hypertensive mothers

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relevance of routinely done laboratory parameters in women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Materials and methods: Hypertensive pregnant women were divided into two groups based on perinatal outcome as those with and without poor perinatal outcome. They were analyzed with various laboratory tests done at the time of diagnosis: Hematological parameters, such as hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count, total leukocyte count, and differential count; renal parameters, such as serum urea, creatinine, and uric acid; liver function tests; and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Coagulation parameters, such as prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and international normalized ratio were compared between the two groups. Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation; α level of p < 0.05 was set as statistically significant. Results: Among the various hematological parameters, platelet count showed statistically significant differences between hypertensives with and without perinatal mortality or morbidity (p = 0.029, p = 0.029 respectively). All renal parameters showed statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.005). Serum aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.034) among the liver parameters and serum LDH (p = 0.024) showed statistically significant differences between the two groups. Coagulation parameters were abnormal among patients with thrombocytopenia. Conclusion: Blood pressure alone is not sufficient in monitoring women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Laboratory parameters that are cost-effective and routinely done in most laboratories are significant in assessing the severity of maternal disease and the perinatal outcome. It can hence, be used to monitor hypertensive women in pregnancy.