Changes in platelet and leukocyte parameters during pregnancy in women with spontaneous pre-term delivery

Abstract

This study analyzed, retrospectively, the changes of platelet and leukocyte parameters in pregnant women with spontaneous preterm birth. A group of 1050 single embryo pregnant women, who underwent regular obstetric examination and in-patient delivery, were divided into three groups: a preterm birth group, a threatened preterm birth group (at admission) and a full-term group. The platelet parameters [platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), plateletcrit (PCT), platelet distribution width (PDW)] and leukocyte parameters [white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR)] were compared in each group. PLT and MPV in preterm birth women were higher than those in the full-term and threatened preterm birth group. Throughout pregnancy, the platelet count showed the lowest level at delivery. The NLR in the preterm group was higher than in the full-term and threatened preterm groups at admission, and the PLR was higher than in the full-term group. The NLR increased gradually during pregnancy, and reached its peak in the full-term group one week before delivery. NLR in the threatened preterm group and preterm group reached their peak in late pregnancy. A BP (back propagation) artificial neural network model was constructed with significant PLT, MPV, NLR and PLR as input values in a univariate analysis. The AUC for predicting the risk of preterm birth using the ROC curve evaluation model was 0.819. In conclusion, the elevation of PLT, MPV, NLR and PLR in pregnant women is related to spontaneous preterm birth. The BP artificial neural network model has certain predictive value for spontaneous preterm birth.