Morphological Changes of Red Blood Cells in Peripheral Blood Smear of Patients with Pregnancy-related Hypertensive Disorders

• Published in: Archives of medical research Vol. 46; no. 6; pp. 479 - 483
• Main Authors: Hernández Hernández, Jorge Daniel, Villaseñor, Onésimo Rangel, Del Rio Alvarado, Javier, Lucach, Roberto Ortega, Zárate, Arturo, Saucedo, Renata, Hernández-Valencia, Marcelino
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.08.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Blood smear; Erythrocytes - cytology; Erythrocytes - metabolism; Female; Humans; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced - blood; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced - pathology; Internal Medicine; Male; Oxidative Stress; Pre-Eclampsia - blood; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular - blood; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular - pathology; Prospective Studies; Schistocytes; Young Adult; Blood smear; Preeclampsia; Schistocytes
• ISSN: 0188-4409; 1873-5487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2015.07.003

Background and Aims Pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders are complications in which risk factors are identified such as nulliparity, age, malnutrition, obesity and social issues. Those statements are explained by theories of abnormal placentation, immunological inadequacy, genetics and oxidative stress, but all theories converge in endothelial damage, which is able to mechanically deform and hemolyze erythrocytes as they pass through the capillaries. Given the effects of endothelial damage, the aim of the study was to determine erythrocyte alterations in peripheral blood smear of patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy that could be used as prognostic condition. Methods We performed a prospective, descriptive and observational study where all patients with hypertensive disorders admitted to the obstetrics and gynecology service of a specialty hospital were recruited. Patients who provided signed informed consent underwent peripheral blood smear. Results were tabulated in percentage graphics and analyzed with Cramer's V based on χ2 . The peripheral blood smear consisted of an extended drop of peripheral blood from the patient with subsequent hematological staining done with Romanowsky stain. Results A total of 119 samples were analyzed; 74% showed abnormal morphology of erythrocytes and the most frequent abnormality was the presence of schistocytes in up to 39% of samples. Descriptive analysis showed a degree of association to independent variables with Cramer's V = 0.41 value ( p  <0.05). Conclusions A high percentage of patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy show some morphologic alterations of erythrocytes in peripheral blood smear.