Changes in hematologic indices in caucasian and non-caucasian pregnant women in the United States

Sarah K. Harm; Mark H. Yazer; Jonathan H. Waters

doi:10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.136

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Original Article

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Korean J Hematol 2012; 47(2):

Published online June 26, 2012

https://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.136

Changes in hematologic indices in caucasian and non-caucasian pregnant women in the United States

Sarah K. Harm¹, Mark H. Yazer^1,2, and Jonathan H. Waters^3,4*

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¹Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

²The Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

³Department of Anesthesiology, Magee Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

⁴Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Correspondence to : Correspondence to Jonathan H. Waters, M.D. Department of Anesthesiology, Magee Womens Hospital, 300 Halket St, Suite 3510, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. Tel: +1-412-641-4260, Fax: +1-412-641-2432, watejh@upmc.edu

Received: April 12, 2012; Revised: May 2, 2012; Accepted: May 16, 2012

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

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Abstract

Background

The objective of this study was to determine if there are differences in common red blood cell (RBC) indices and platelet concentrations during pregnancy and to establish if any observed differences in these parameters were based on the patient's ethnicity.

Methods

From an electronic perinatal database which stores laboratory and clinical information on a large number of births at a regional hospital specializing in obstetrical care, RBC index and platelet concentration data were retrospectively analyzed at various time points throughout pregnancy. RBC index data was collected from 8,277 pregnant women (5,802 Caucasian pregnant women and 2,475 non-Caucasian pregnant women). Platelet concentration data was available from 8252 pregnant women (5,784 Caucasian pregnant women and 2,468 non-Caucasian pregnant women).

Results

Hemoglobin (HGB) levels were significantly higher amongst Caucasian women compared to non-Caucasian women (P at least <0.01) starting at 27 weeks gestation and proceeding until term. There was no significant difference in the mean PLT counts between Caucasian and non-Caucasian pregnant women at any point during gestation.

Conclusion

There are ethnic differences in HGB levels, but not the platelet concentrations, during pregnancy. Based on this finding it would be reasonable to conduct formal prospective studies to determine the clinical significance of this difference and to establish the threshold for diagnosing gestational anemia, especially in pregnant non-Caucasian women.

Keywords Anemia, Complete blood count, Hemoglobin, Pregnancy, Reference Ranges

Article

Original Article

Korean J Hematol 2012; 47(2): 136-141

Published online June 26, 2012 https://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.136

Changes in hematologic indices in caucasian and non-caucasian pregnant women in the United States

Sarah K. Harm¹, Mark H. Yazer^1,2, and Jonathan H. Waters^3,4*

¹Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

²The Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

³Department of Anesthesiology, Magee Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

⁴Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Correspondence to:Correspondence to Jonathan H. Waters, M.D. Department of Anesthesiology, Magee Womens Hospital, 300 Halket St, Suite 3510, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. Tel: +1-412-641-4260, Fax: +1-412-641-2432, watejh@upmc.edu

Received: April 12, 2012; Revised: May 2, 2012; Accepted: May 16, 2012

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keywords: Anemia, Complete blood count, Hemoglobin, Pregnancy, Reference Ranges

Abstract

Fig 1.

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Figure 1.

Hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), platelet count (PLT), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in Caucasian (○) and non-Caucasian (▪) pregnant women throughout the gestational period. Mean±1 SD are shown. See text for statistical analysis. The shaded area on the HGB graph represents the CDC's recommended threshold for anemia during pregnancy.

Blood Research 2012; 47: 136-141https://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.136

Fig 2.

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Figure 2.

Red blood cell count (RBC), red cell distribution width (RDW), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), in Caucasian (○) and non-Caucasian (▪) pregnant women throughout the gestational period. Mean±1 SD are shown. See text for statistical analysis.

Blood Research 2012; 47: 136-141https://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.136

Table 1 . Reported hemoglobin (HGB) values (g/dL) throughout the gestational period (weeks). Mean±1 SD shown, unless otherwise indicated..

^a)HGB threshold for anemia during pregnancy, ^b)Means±SEM presented, ^c)Means and ±1.96 SD presented as mmol/L in original publication. Factor 1.6115 used to convert mmol/L to g/dL. ^d)Means and SD as measured during 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimesters..

Abbreviations: SR, sustained release; RR, rapid release..