Full Length Research Paper

Haemorrheologic and fibrinolytic activities in pregnant women: Influence of gestational age and parity

M. Imoru^1* and A. O. Emeribe²

¹Department of Haematology and Blood Transfussion, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, P. M. B. 3452, Kano, Nigeria.

²Haematology Unit Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: imorumomodu67@yahoo.com. Tel.: 08033174997.

Accepted 9 February, 2009

   Abstract

Haemorrheologic and fibrinolytic activities in pregnancy have been scarcely examined in Nigeria especially on the influences of gestational age and parity. In order to assess these influences, 100 pregnant and 100 non pregnant subjects (controls) of age range 18 – 40 years were studied. Packed cell volumes (PCV), relative whole blood viscosity (RWBV), relative plasma viscosity (RPV), plasma fibrinogen concentration (PFC), euglobulin lysis time (ELT), total proteins and albumin were estimated. The differences in the values of PCV, RWBV, RPV, PFC, total proteins, albumin and globulin with gestational age were not statically significant (P>0.05) while the values of ELT decreased with increase in gestational age (P < 0.01). The differences in the values of PCV, RWBV, RPV, PFC, ELT, total proteins, albumin and globulin with parity were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In conclusion, this study has shown that gestational age and parity had little or no effect on the haemorrheologic and fibrinolytic activities during pregnancy.

Key words: Haemorrheologic, fibrinolytic activity, Nigerian pregnant women.