Effect of pregnancy induced hypertension on mothers and their babies.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study the hematological profile of mothers with pregnancy induced hypertension and their infants. METHODS: The effects of maternal hypertension on the hematological profile of neonates were studied in 50 cases comparing the values with that of infants born to normotensive mothers. RESULTS: There was higher number of preterm, Intra-Uterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) and Small for Gestational Age (SGA) babies among the infants of hypertensive mothers. There was a significantly higher incidence of thrombocytopenia and nucleated RBCs seen in these babies. Significant neutropenia was not documented and there was no increased incidence of bleeding when compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Although there were significant changes in the hematological profile of infants born to hypertensive mothers, there was no significant increase in neonatal morbidity as a result of these changes.