ABSTRACT
Background Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a disorder in which the fetus fails to reach its genetic development potential and is considered to be present when the weight at birth is less than the 10th percentile; as a result, it is at risk of increased postnatal morbidity and mortality. Every year, approximately 24% of newborns worldwide are determined to have IUGR. The objective of the present study was to identify various sociodemographic, medical, and obstetric risk factors associated with IUGR. Methodology A case-control study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2022. Fifty-four cases and 54 controls were included in the study. Postnatal women with neonates having birth weight below the 10th percentile for gestational age (GA) were recruited as cases in the study. Control cases were postnatal women with neonatal birth weight appropriate for (GA). Detailed history with respect to socio-demographic, medical, and obstetric parameters was noted and compared. Results Among the sociodemographic factors, only socioeconomic status showed significant statistical differences with the age group of 21 to 25 years showing maximum (51.9%) IUGR cases. Among the maternal risk factors, anemia (29.6%) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (22.2%) were marked as significant risk factors for IUGR. There was no significant difference in the distribution of past medical and obstetric histories between the two research groups. Conclusion Due to the poor living conditions, low literacy rates, and general lack of knowledge, low socioeconomic level increases the risk of IUGR. This leads to nutritional deficiencies and insufficient growth environment which results in anemia and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy which are potent risk factors for IUGR. IUGR may be caused by maternal risk factors as well as past medical and obstetric conditions. However, for the risk factor of IUGR, the birth weight at the time of delivery could be taken into consideration as well.
ABSTRACT
Background Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a disorder characterized by hypertension that may occur in a pregnant woman who was normotensive earlier. One of the major factors responsible consists of the inflammatory system being activated with cytokines and chemokines. The normal range of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) varies from 1 to 3 and 90 to 210, respectively. Therefore, this study was conducted to compare PE patients with normotensive pregnant women in relation to their NLR as well as PLR. Methodology From January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022, a case-control study was conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at a tertiary care center. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 140 antenatal women were included and divided into a case group consisting of 70 women with PE and a control group involving 70 normotensive pregnant women. A blood sample for complete blood count testing was collected to determine NLR and PLR. Results The mean NLR in the case group and control group was 3.52 ± 1.05 and 3.22 ± 0.88, respectively, with statistically significant results. Additionally, the PLR in the case group was 98.08 ± 18.27, and in the control group, it was 85.25 ± 12.36, having a significant difference between both the groups along with a significant difference in the case group among the severe and non-severe PE. Conclusion In antenatal women, NLR and PLR increase with PE along with an increase in NLR and PLR. Additionally, with the availability of a complete blood count, detecting PE ability markers such as the NLR and PLR will be a significant advantage for managing PE to prevent adverse outcomes.
