Increased neutrophil numbers account for leukocytosis in women with preeclampsia

We evaluated the leukocyte differentials in women with normal pregnancies and in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (PE). A retrospective study was performed in 240 women who were delivered at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Louisiana, from January 1, 2002, to July 31, 2003. A total of 80 patients were studied in each group: normal pregnancy, mild PE, or severe PE. Leukocyte total and neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, basophil, hemoglobin, and platelet counts were analyzed by analysis of variance and pairwise comparison. Data are presented as mean +/- standard deviation. A P value <0.05 was set as statistically different. The total leukocyte count was significantly increased in women with severe PE compared with women with mild PE and normal pregnant controls: 10.66 +/- 3.70 ( P < 0.0001) versus 9.47 +/- 2.59 and 8.55 +/- 1.93 (1 x 10 (3)/microL), respectively. The increased total leukocyte count was mainly due to the increase in neutrophil numbers: 8.05 +/- 4.01 (severe; P < 0.0001) versus 6.69 +/- 2.23 (mild) and 5.90 +/- 1.79 (controls), respectively. The total neutrophil count was further increased 48 hours after delivery in the group with severe PE. No statistical differences for monocyte and lymphocyte counts were observed between normal and PE groups. Increased neutrophil numbers account for the leukocytosis in women with PE.