The association between placenta previa and leukocyte and platelet indices - a case control study

Despite medical advances, rising awareness, and satisfactory care facilities, placenta previa (PP) remains a challenging clinical entity due to the risk of excessive obstetric hemorrhage. Etiological concerns gave way to life-saving concerns about the prediction of maternal outcomes due to hemorrhage. Our study aimed to detect an early predictive marker of placenta previa.

Ninety-three pregnant patients diagnosed with PP and 247 controls were recruited for this retro-spective study. Platelet and leukocyte indices were compared between the two groups.

The groups were similar with regard to age distribution (31.2 ± 5.1 years [mean ± SD] in the PP group and 31.7 ± 4.2 years in controls), body mass index (BMI) (27.7 ± 3.6 kg/m2 in the PP group and 27.4 ± 4.6 kg/m2 in controls), and most characteristics of the obstetric history. Total leukocyte count, neutrophil count, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were significantly higher in the PP group. Mean platelet volume (MPV) and large platelet cell ratio (P-LCR) values were significantly lower in the PP group as compared to controls, with regard to third trimester values. However, patients who were diagnosed postnatally with placenta percreta had lower MPV and P-LCR values than other patients with PP. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups as far as first trimester values were concerned.

Platelet and leukocyte indices in the third trimester of pregnancy may be valuable predictors of placenta previa and placenta percreta. More comprehensive studies are needed to address this issue.