Importance of haemogram parameters for prediction of the time of birth in women diagnosed with threatened preterm labour

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the importance of complete blood count parameters for predicting the timing of birth in threatened preterm labour cases. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 92 patients who were diagnosed with threatened preterm labour (24–34 gestational weeks). The patients were divided into two groups according to the time of birth (group 1: delivered within the first week after diagnosis; group 2: delivered later than 1 week). We compared characteristics and complete blood count parameters between these two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in maternal age, body mass index, gravida, parity, haemoglobin levels, and gestational weeks between the two groups. The mean cervical length was 24.24 ± 3.60 mm in group 1 and 30.70 ± 5.32 mm in group 2. There were significant differences in the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, white blood cell count, red cell distribution width (RDW), absolute lymphocyte cell count, and absolute neutrophil cell count between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Maternal serum RDW, the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, white blood cell count, absolute lymphocyte cell count, and the absolute neutrophil cell count profile could guide clinicians in predicting the time of birth in threatened preterm labour cases.