Mean corpuscular volume; A non-invasive index in the evaluation of gestational hypertension and disease severity in patients with preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a disorder of pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure. Regarding vascular and red blood cell (RBC) damages in preeclampsia patients, the present study was performed with aim to investigate the relationship between the level of RBC indicators with the incidence and severity of preeclampsia.

This case-control study was conducted within one year (July 2021 to July 2022) on 22 pregnant women with mild preeclampsia, 38 pregnant women with severe preeclampsia, and 38 healthy pregnant women who referred to Amiral Momenin Hospital in Zabol city. Evaluation of the number of red blood cells and the amount of hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, and MCHC was obtained by analyzing 2 ml of blood containing anticoagulant. Data analysis was done using SPSS statistical software (version 26) and independent t-test, chi-square, Pearson, and logistic regression analysis. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Among the basic variables, having a history of preeclampsia (P=0.005), body mass index (P=0.030), systolic blood pressure (P<0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (P<0.001) had significant differences between the three studied groups. Among the RBC indices, MCV was significantly different between the studied groups (P=0.043). Hemoglobin (r= -0.248, P=0.034), MCV (r= -0.335, P=0.004), and MCH (r= -0.315, P=0.007) had a significant correlation with systolic blood pressure. Hemoglobin [OR (95% CI)= 0.545 (0.335, 0.912), P=0.021], hematocrit [OR (95% CI)= 0.789, (0.644, 0.967), P=0.022], and MCV [OR (95% CI)= 0.891 (0.808, 0.983), P=0.022] were related to the severity of preeclampsia.

Considering the significant reduction of MCV index in the preeclampsia group and the correlation of this decrease with the increase of systolic blood pressure and the severity of preeclampsia, it is suggested that this non-invasive index be measured during pregnancy for screening of preeclampsia.