Assessment of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio among Pregnant Women with and without Pre-Eclampsia
E. I. Ezebuiro
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria.
N. I. Ugwu
Department of Haematology & Immunology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
K. K. Mba
Department of Physiology, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria.
C. J. Mba
Department of Physiology, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria.
U. P. Okite
Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria.
S. N. Ikegwuonu
Medical Laboratory Scientist, Nosmaris Medical Diagnostic Ltd, Aguda, Surulere, Lagos State, Nigeria.
D. O. Anele
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria.
I. A. Onuah
Department of Surgery, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria.
C. O. Onyemereze
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Nigeria.
A. I. Airaodion
*
Department of Biochemistry, Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Pre-eclampsia is associated with maternal inflammatory and haematological changes. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are accessible indices derived from a routine complete blood count.
Objective: To compare NLR, PLR, and selected blood-cell parameters in pregnant women with and without pre-eclampsia at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.
Methods: In this hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study, 366 pregnant women (183 with pre-eclampsia and 183 normotensive controls) were recruited consecutively. NLR and PLR were calculated from full blood counts. Analyses included group comparisons, correlations and exploratory logistic regression.
Results: NLR was higher in the pre-eclampsia group (4.27 ± 1.32 vs. 2.79 ± 0.90; p < .001; mean difference, 1.48; approximate 95% CI [1.25, 1.71]), whereas PLR did not differ significantly (115.37 ± 40.78 vs. 121.47 ± 33.97; p = .121). Neutrophil and total white blood cell counts were higher, whereas lymphocyte and platelet counts were lower, in women with pre-eclampsia. Across the pooled sample, NLR correlated with systolic (rₛ = .456) and diastolic (rₛ = .463) blood pressure. Adjusted models were exploratory because of mathematically linked predictors and an undefined ANC-labelled covariate.
Conclusion: NLR was higher among pregnant women with established pre-eclampsia in this tertiary-care sample, whereas unadjusted PLR values did not differ significantly. These cross-sectional associations do not establish independent diagnostic accuracy, future disease prediction or causal effects.
Keywords: Pre-eclampsia, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, blood-cell count, pregnancy, inflammation