ABSTRACT
Haematological variations and the presence of anti-D antibodies in pregnant women were of significant clinical interest due to their potential impact on maternal and fetal health outcomes. These variations encompass changes in blood cell counts, indices, and immune responses that occur during pregnancy. Additionally, the presence of anti-D antibodies in Rh-negative pregnant women poses risks of hemolytic disease of the newborn. Therefore, this study aims to determine some haematological variations and anti D antibody levels in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. A total of two hundred (200) adult pregnant women attending antenatal at the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Benin City were recruited which consisted of 50 women per trimester. Fifty non-pregnant healthy women were also recruited in Benin city as control. About 6 millimeters of venous blood samples was collected from of each subject using a sterile needle and syringe. Then, 3 ml was dispensed into a clean dry plain container and another 3 ml into an ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) container. Haematological parameters, blood grouping, anti D detection and anti D titration were determined using ERMA Haematology Auto analyser PCE-210N, tube method, Indirect Coomb’s test and serial dilution method respectively and data obtained were analyzed by the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software, p<0.05 was considered significant. The result showed that Age was distributed into 15- 25 years, 26-36 years and 36-46 years. Half of the participants had completed secondary education (50.0%), while 26.7% had tertiary education, and 23.3% had primary education. Parity distribution showed that 45.3% of participants had 1-2 children, followed by 41.3% with no previous children (parity 0), and 13.4% with 3-5 children. Blood group O was the most common among participants (51.3%), followed by blood group B (30.7%), and blood group A (18.0%). White blood cell count was significantly higher in all trimesters (7.74±0.22, 7.78±0.20, and 8.21±0.20, respectively) compared to the control (4.43±0.20). Neutrophil levels were significantly higher in the first (56.53±1.16) and third trimesters (59.55±1.15) compared to the control (51.70±0.98), while lymphocyte levels were lower in all trimesters (ranging from 29.02 to 27.92) compared to the control (38.32±0.96). RBC count, haemoglobin, and haematocrit levels were notably reduced in the first and third trimesters compared to the control. Mean cell volume was higher in the first trimester (87.54±0.91) compared to the control (83.15±0.75), while MCHC was lower in all trimesters compared to the control. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was significantly higher in all trimesters compared to the control. Among the 8 Rhesus D negative pregnant women, only 3 tested positive for anti-D antibodies and they were all in the third trimester with anti-D titre of 32 each. In conclusion, pregnant women showed significant increase in white blood cell count, neutrophil, and NLR. Also, decreased red blood cell count, haemoglobin levels, and haematocrit values were also observed. These findings give information about the haematological changes that happens during pregnancy and their implications.
