COAGULATION STUDIES (PROTHROMBIN TIME, ACTIVATED PARTIAL THROMBOPLASTIN TIME AND PLATELET LEVEL)

ABSTRACT

Exposure to malaria infection during pregnancy poses significant health risks to both mothers and fetuses, particularly concerning haemostatic parameters. This study aimed to investigate the effects of malaria infection on prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), international normalized ratio (INR), and platelet levels in pregnant women. Approximately 5mililiters (5mls) of blood was collected from the cubital fossa. 1.8 milliliters (1.8mls) of blood was dispensed into a 0.2microliter sodium citrate container for the assessment of coagulation parameters ( prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time) using standard methods. 3.2 milliliters (3.2 mls) of blood was dispensed into an ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid container for the platelet count using the XP-300 haematological autoanalyzer. Malaria parasites was determined using AccuTell rapid malaria test. Data obtained was analysed by the statistical package for social scientists (SPSS) version 26.0. A total of 50 malaria-infected pregnant women and 30 uninfected controls were enrolled in the study. Results revealed that malaria-infected pregnant women exhibited significantly higher PT (19.44±1.045 vs. 13.35±0.15), aPTT (41.16±1.753 vs. 25.7±0.8829), and INR (1.761±0.1226 vs. 1.063±0.01598) compared to controls (p<0.05). Additionally, platelet count was significantly lower in malaria-infected pregnant women compared to controls (133.2±7.366 vs. 201.2±9.335, p<0.0001). Furthermore, a negative correlation was observed between platelet count and both PT (r= -0.5955, p<0.0001) and aPTT (r= -0.5105, p=0.0005). These findings underscore the significant impact of malaria infection on haemostatic parameters during pregnancy, highlighting the importance of early detection and management strategies to mitigate adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.In conclusion, malaria infection during pregnancy has a significant impact on haemostatic parameters, including PT, aPTT, INR, and platelet levels. Early detection and management of coagulation abnormalities are essential for optimizing maternal and fetal health outcomes in malaria-endemic regions. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving these alterations and to develop targeted interventions to mitigate their effects.