Leukocyte count on admission as a predictor of clinical outcome in the expectant management for women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes

Abstract

Objective: We hypothesized that a single value of leukocyte count, on admission might be a helpful predictor to prognosticate the clinical outcome and plan the management (early delivery versus conservative management) in patients presenting with pre term pre-labour rupture of membranes (PPROM). Design: Observational study. Setting: This study was conducted in a tertiary care centre. Population or sample: 127 pregnancies complicated with PPROM. Method: A novel scoring system was devised depending upon the final clinical performance. Main outcome measure: Adverse fetal, neonatal and maternal outcome. Result: Based on the score cut off for the total leukocyte count was calculated to prognosticate the outcome. Leukocyte count of 15,850/mm3, at the time of admission was found to be able to predict the clinical outcome with a sensitivity of 85.7% and specificity of 87.6%, in a case of PPROM. Whereas the individual components of differential leukocyte counts were found to be not of much help in this regard. Conclusion: Leukocyte count of 15,850/mm3 at admission can be used to prognosticate outcome in pregnancies complicated with PPROM. Key words: preterm prelabor rupture of membranes; total leukocyte count; differential count; prematurity; infectious morbidity.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljog.v33i2.4006 Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2011; 33: 51-55