Alteration of peripheral blood cells in tubal ectopic pregnancy

To investigate whether mean platelet volumes and leukocyte counts are altered significantly in patients with tubal ectopic pregnancy (TEP).

Retrospective analysis of mean platelet volumes and leukocyte counts of 138 TEP patients, diagnosed between 2005 and 2012, and the control group consisting of 72 pregnants was performed. Patients with TEP were further subdivided into 2 subgroups composed of 72 ruptured and 66 non-ruptured cases. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis and the Mann-Whitney U tests.

Mean platelet volume was found to be larger in patients with TEP (whether ruptured or non-ruptured) when compared to controls (p = 0.007). However no significant difference could be observed between the ruptured or non-ruptured cases (p = 0.89). With respect to leukocytosis, the TEP group with tubal rupture had significantly higher white blood cell numbers when compared to the non-ruptured TEP and the control groups (p = 0.022 and p < 0.007, respectively).

Mean platelet volume seems to be higher in ectopic pregnancy and this finding evokes a possible role of increased platelet activity in the pathophysiology Leukocytosis may occur more apparently in EP cases with tubal rupture. However, further prospective, controlled and with a larger sample size studies must be conducted to find clues on the correlation between the clinical entities and laboratory findings.