title: Morphological changes of red blood cells in peripheral blood smear of patients with pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders are complications in which risk factors are identified such as nulliparity, age, malnutrition, obesity and social issues. Those statements are explained by theories of abnormal placentation, immunological inadequacy, genetics and oxidative stress, but all theories converge in endothelial damage, which is able to mechanically deform and hemolyze erythrocytes as they pass through the capillaries. Given the effects of endothelial damage, the aim of the study was to determine erythrocyte alterations in peripheral blood smear of patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy that could be used as prognostic condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a prospective, descriptive and observational study where all patients with hypertensive disorders admitted to the obstetrics and gynecology service of a specialty hospital were recruited. Patients who provided signed informed consent underwent peripheral blood smear. Results were tabulated in percentage graphics and analyzed with Cramer's V based on χ(2). The peripheral blood smear consisted of an extended drop of peripheral blood from the patient with subsequent hematological staining done with Romanowsky stain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 119 samples were analyzed; 74% showed abnormal morphology of erythrocytes and the most frequent abnormality was the presence of schistocytes in up to 39% of samples. Descriptive analysis showed a degree of association to independent variables with Cramer's V = 0.41 value (p <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high percentage of patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy show some morphologic alterations of erythrocytes in peripheral blood smear.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Ginecologia y Obstetricia, Hospital Regional Tlalnepantla, ISEMYM, Mexico, D.F., Mexico.
authors.forename: Jorge Daniel
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hernández Hernández
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Ginecologia y Obstetricia, Hospital Regional Tlalnepantla, ISEMYM, Mexico, D.F., Mexico.
authors.forename: Onésimo Rangel
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Villaseñor
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Ginecologia y Obstetricia, Hospital Regional Tlalnepantla, ISEMYM, Mexico, D.F., Mexico.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Del Rio Alvarado
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Ginecologia y Obstetricia, Hospital Regional Tlalnepantla, ISEMYM, Mexico, D.F., Mexico.
authors.forename: Roberto Ortega
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Lucach
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigacion Medica en Enfermedades Endocrinas, Diabetes y Metabolismo, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Medico Nacional, IMSS, Mexico, D.F., Mexico.
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zárate
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigacion Medica en Enfermedades Endocrinas, Diabetes y Metabolismo, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Medico Nacional, IMSS, Mexico, D.F., Mexico.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saucedo
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigacion Medica en Enfermedades Endocrinas, Diabetes y Metabolismo, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Medico Nacional, IMSS, Mexico, D.F., Mexico. Electronic address: mhernandezvalencia@prodigy.net.mx.
authors.forename: Marcelino
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández-Valencia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Blood smear; Preeclampsia; Schistocytes