C-Reactive Protein and Routine Coagulation Studies in Obstetric Patients with and without Recorded Clinical Complications in Ibadan, Nigeria
Olajumoke Gbemisola Ajayi
Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Festus Olatubosun Amusan
Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Tolani Jamiu Ojo
*
Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Beatrice Ebun Adesina
Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Bukunmi Kehinde Bamidele
Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Wemimo Taiwo Bamidele
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Pregnancy alters inflammatory and haemostatic profiles, complicating the interpretation of routine laboratory measurements.
Aim: This study compared C-reactive protein (CRP), prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time with kaolin (aPTTK) in obstetric participants with recorded clinical complications and apparently healthy pregnant controls in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Study Design: Comparative case-control study.
Place and Duration of Study: Adeoyo State Hospital, Ring Road, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Data collection commenced in November 2025 following ethical approval and took place within the approved study period of 12 November 2025 to 11 November 2026.
Methodology: The study included 250 participants, 150 in the clinical group and 100 controls. The clinical group comprised participants with various obstetric and medical conditions. CRP was measured by latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetry on the Abbott ARCHITECT c4000. PT and aPTTK were measured by duplicate manual clot-endpoint procedures. CRP was compared using a Welch independent-samples t test, PT and aPTTK were compared using Mann-Whitney U tests, and associations were examined using Pearson product-moment correlation; analyses were unadjusted. Statistical significance was assessed at a two-sided alpha level of .05.
Results: Mean CRP was higher in the clinical group than in controls (3.71 ± 1.91 vs 2.87 ± 1.54 mg/L; P = .012; Cohen's d = 0.45). PT did not differ significantly between groups (median 12.95 vs 12.78 s; P = .312), and aPTTK was also similar (median 29.96 vs 30.41 s; P = .590). CRP correlated weakly and inversely with PT (r = -0.24, P = .001) and aPTTK (r = -0.21, P = .006), while PT and aPTTK were weakly positively correlated (r = 0.15, P = .047).
Conclusion: The clinical group had a higher mean CRP concentration, while routine coagulation studies did not differ significantly. Correlations were weak. Given the heterogeneous clinical group and unadjusted comparisons, findings represent aggregate rather than condition-specific associations.
Keywords: C-reactive protein, routine coagulation studies, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time with kaolin, obstetric complications, pregnancy