European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ACUTE PHASE REACTANT CORRELATES AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA

Chinyelu Obianuju Mba*, Teddy Charles Adias and Evelyn M. Eze

ABSTRACT

Pregnancy is usually associated with many changes in a woman which can be physiologic or pathologic. This was a cross sectional study that was carried out with the aim of determining the acute phase reactant correlates among pregnant women in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. A total of 180 subjects were sampled, comprising of 90 pregnant and 90 non-pregnant women, within the age range of 16 to 45 years. Five milliliters of whole blood was collected from each subject at ambient temperature using standard venepuncture technique. Three milliliters was dispensed in EDTA bottle and was used for ESR assay, while 2 mililiters which was stored in plain bottle was used for CRP and albumin assays. C-reactive protein was analysed with reagents from BioCheck Inc, CA, USA using ELISA; ESR was analysed with Westergreen method; and Albumin was analysed with Bromocresolgreen method. The data obtained was coded and analysed using SPSS version 20. Comparison of pregnant women with controls using t-test, showed significant increase in ESR (10.97 vs 38.59 mm/hr, p <0.01) and CRP (0.000012 vs 0.00019 g/l, p <0.01), and decrease in albumin (45.80 vs 38.82 g/l, p<0.01). Comparison of the mean for the parameters within the three trimesters was done using ANOVA, and only albumin significantly varied (F=3.45, p=0.04). To identify the trimester pairs that had significant mean difference, Tukey’s Post Hoc test was used. Albumin had a significant mean difference between the 1st and 3rd trimesters (p= 0.04). Using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, ESR (r=0.47, p< 0.001) and CRP (r= -0.25, p< 0.01) negatively correlate with albumin; while ESR and CRP positively correlate with each other (r= 0.36, p< 0.01). Also, there was positive correlation of ESR and CRP in 2nd trimester (r=0.41, p=0.03). At least one acute phase reactant should be incorporated as a routine pregnancy screening test in conjunction with clinical assessment for prompt and efficient diagnosis of inflammatory disorders.

Keywords: Acute Phase Reactants, correlates, pregnancy, Nigeria.