THE ADVERSE EFFECT ON FETAL HEMOGRAM BY PREECLAMPSIA - MARKED ANISOCYTOSIS WITH NORMOCYTIC, NORMOCHROMIC ERYTHROCYTHEMIA AS WELL AS THROMBOCYTOPENIA

Whether preeclampsia affects the fetal hematologic system still remain s a controversial issue. The purpose of this series was to examine the hypothesis that preeclampsia may or may not cause adverse effects on fetal hemogram, including erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets. In addition, no one, to date, has reported the effect on red cell distrib ution width (RDW) of fetal cord blood by preeclampsia. Therefore this series also tested the hypothesis that preeclampsia may induce elevati on of RDW in fetal cord blood. From August 1, 1989 to July 31 1990, we prospectively collected cord blood samples at parturition from 21 pre eclamptic pregnancies and 366 uncomplicated controls and measured thei r complete blood counts by computerized blood autoanalyzer. The result s of the comparison with red blood cells showed significant erythrocyt hemia (P < 0.05), increased hematocrit (P < 0.05), elevated hemoglobin (P < 0.05), and marked anisocytosis (as reflected by RDW, P < 0.0001) in preeclamptic pregnancies than in controls. Though no significant d ifferences were demonstrated in the white cell counts, severe thromboc ytopenia (P < 0.001) was observed in the preeclamptic group than in co ntrols. We concluded that preeclampsia may cause significant normocyti c, normochromic erythrocythemia, marked anisocytosis and severe thromb ocytopenia in newborns, which deserved the attention of obstetricians and neonatologists. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the und erlying pathophysiological mechanisms.