Complete blood count during the first trimester predicting spontaneous preterm birth.

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Hematology
• Reproductive Medicine

Background:

• Spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) is a major global health concern, necessitating early identification of at-risk pregnancies.
• Peripheral complete blood count (CBC) parameters may offer insights into pregnancy complications.
• The diagnostic utility of first-trimester CBC in predicting sPTB requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess peripheral complete blood count (CBC) parameters in the first trimester of pregnancy among women who experienced spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB).
• To compare these CBC parameters with those of age-matched healthy controls.
• To evaluate the predictive value of first-trimester CBC for sPTB.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional case-control study involving 175 women with sPTB and 175 age-matched healthy controls.
• Data collection included baseline characteristics and first-trimester CBC parameters.
• Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was employed to determine predictive values and optimal cut-off points.

Main Results:

• Significantly higher white blood cell count, platelet, lymphocyte, and monocyte counts, along with elevated lymphocyte-monocyte ratios, were observed in the sPTB group.
• Lower platelet-lymphocyte ratio and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio were noted in the sPTB group compared to controls.
• ROC analysis indicated that lymphocyte count, white blood cell count, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte-monocyte ratio, monocyte, and platelet counts had predictive value for sPTB, with lymphocyte count demonstrating the highest predictive capability (AUROC = 0.853).

Conclusions:

• First-trimester lymphocyte values emerged as the most significant predictor of spontaneous preterm delivery.
• Monitoring lymphocyte counts in the first trimester presents a potentially cost-effective and accessible method for assessing sPTB risk.
• These findings suggest that routine CBC analysis in early pregnancy could aid in identifying women at higher risk for preterm birth.