title: Normal pregnancy and coagulation profile: from the first through the third trimester.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Normal pregnancy is a hypercoagulable state; a physiological safety valve aimed at preventing excessive maternal blood loss at delivery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the influence of normal pregnancy on blood coagulation and to explore changes in activity from the first through the third trimester.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty (60) apparently healthy pregnant women (20 from each trimester) and 20 healthy non-pregnant age-matched controls were recruited. Each participant had Prothrombin time (PT). Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and platelet count done. Multiple comparisons were made between control values and coagulation profile at different stages of pregnancy using the Bonferroni statistics. Results were expressed as means and standard deviations, p < 0.01 was significant at 95 % CI. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Institutional review board.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The means of the APTT were significantly lower in the first, second and third trimesters compared with controls (35.59 ± 4.95 seconds, 32.22 ± 5.79 seconds and 29.60 ± 3.66 seconds, respectively, vs. 40.55 ± 5.95 seconds; p = 0.01). Correspondingly, the platelet count was significantly lower in the 3 trimester of pregnancy compared with controls (178.35 ± 41.52 x 10(9)/L vs. 233.86 ± 55.34 x 10(9)/L; p < 0.01) and equally with level in the 2nd trimester (178.35 ± 41.52 x 10(9)/L vs. 232.10 ± 48.67 x 10(9)/L; p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The APTT and platelet counts are significantly lower in the 3 trimester of normal pregnancy.
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Ibeh
authors: Chide Emmanuel
authors: CE
authors: Okocha
authors: Chinawaeze John
authors: CJ
authors: Aneke
authors: Christian Ejike
authors: CE
authors: Onah
authors: Agatha Oluchi
authors: AO
authors: Nwosu
authors: Kenneth Amobi
authors: KA
authors: Nkwazema
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000502:physiology; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000502:physiology; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult