ABSTRACT
Hypertensive disorder is one of the most common complications of pregnancy. It is a major cause of total morbidity and mortality worldwide. Eclampsia is the most common of these hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The objective of this study was to determine the hematological parameters of eclamptic patients in Hajiya Gambo Sawaba General Hospital and ST. Lukes Anglican Hospital Zaria, Nigeria. One hundred women were recruited into the study, fifty (50) of them were eclamptic while other fifty (50) were normal pregnant women. Blood samples of the 50 consecutive eclamptic patients admitted in the two hospitals mentioned above and 50 normal pregnant women that attended antenatal clinics in the two hospitals mentioned above where studied. Blood samples were collected via veno-puncture and the hematological parameters determined using Abacus-Junior auto analyzer, while a structured questionnaire was administered to obtain socio-demographic information. The result showed a significant increase (P< 0.05) in the mean white blood cell count WBC x103/μ (10.54Â�0.70) as compared to normal pregnant (7.35Â�0.64). The mean blood count RBC x109/μl (3.53Â�0.12) of the eclamptic was significantly lower than that of the normal pregnant women (4.12Â�0.12). A reduced mean cell volume (MCVfL) 86.40Â�1.16 and a high mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC g/dl) 33.94Â�1.14 of the eclamptic as compared to that of the control MCV 92.58Â�2.04 and MCHC 31.92Â�0.45. The platelet count of the eclamptic was significantly lower in the eclamptic (PLT x109/ μl) 201.11Â�12.52 than the normal pregnant control 305.64Â�12.53. There was statistical significant difference in the mean platelet volume (MPVfl) 8.38Â�0.25 as compared to the control 9.34Â�0.56. Correlation using the linear regression analysis showed no relationship between blood pressure and increase in the granulocytes. In conclusion, Eclampsia has effect on some hematological parameters studied. The knowledge of these changes will help in the diagnosis and prognosis of Eclampsia.