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A Case-Control Study Utilizing Red Cell Distribution Width as a Bio-Inflammatory Marker in Pre-eclampsia
Khushboo Singhal1, Shweta Gupta2, Sunita Tiwari3
1Department of Physiology, Subharti Medical College, Meerut, IND.
Insights
Red cell distribution width (RDW) can help diagnose pre-eclampsia (PE). Higher RDW levels were significantly associated with PE, showing diagnostic accuracy in this study.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Hematology
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy complication marked by high blood pressure and proteinuria after 20 weeks.
- Early detection and diagnosis of PE are crucial for maternal and fetal well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of red cell distribution width (RDW) as a diagnostic marker for pre-eclampsia.
- To determine the diagnostic accuracy of RDW in distinguishing between pre-eclampsia cases and normotensive controls.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 70 pregnant women (35 PE cases, 35 controls).
- Venous blood samples were analyzed using a semi-automated hematological analyzer to measure RDW.
- Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was performed to assess diagnostic accuracy.
Main Results:
- Women with pre-eclampsia exhibited significantly higher RDW levels compared to healthy controls (p=0.004).
- RDW demonstrated significant diagnostic accuracy (AUC=0.71, p=0.004) with a cut-off of >=18.25, showing 80% sensitivity and 71.4% specificity.
Conclusions:
- Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a cost-effective and accessible biomarker from complete blood counts.
- RDW shows potential as a valuable tool for the prediction and diagnosis of pre-eclampsia.
Introduction:
This research was conducted to assess the effectiveness of red cell distribution width (RDW) as an indicator for pre-eclampsia (PE), a condition characterized by elevated blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine occurring beyond the 20th week of pregnancy.
Methodology:
The case-control investigation spanned 10 months, following the acquisition of informed consent and the receipt of ethical clearance. The study sample comprised a total of 70 pregnant women, evenly divided into two groups: 35 cases of PE and 35 normotensive pregnant controls. Both the cases and controls provided 3 ml venous blood samples. The study employed a semi-automated three-part hematological analyzer to establish the baseline RDW for all individuals.
Results:
This study showed that the individuals with pre-eclampsia had a greater RDW compared to the healthy pregnant women. The observed difference was found to be statistically significant, with a p-value of 0.004. The receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis showed that RDW exhibited significant diagnostic accuracy in differentiating between cases and controls (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.71, P = 0.004) when employing a cut-off value of >= 18.25. The sensitivity was 80% and the specificity was 71.4%.
Conclusion:
In contrast to other indicators of inflammation, RDW is a cost-effective and easily accessible biomarker that can be acquired from routine complete blood counts. It has the potential to be valuable in predicting and diagnosing pre-eclampsia.
