Plasma Homocysteine Level and Red Blood Cells Parameters in Third Trimester of Pregnancy among Sudanese Women in Khartoum State

Abstract

The case control study was conducted in Omdurman Maternity Hospital during the period from September to November 2018, to determine non fasting plasma homocysteine and red blood cells parameters in 35 pregnant Sudanese women(from age 18-43 years) attending Omdurman Maternity Hospital at their third trimester consistent with use of the folate supplement as a case group and 35 non pregnant healthy Sudanese women at matched age as a control group. 2.5ml of venous blood was collected in EDTA anticoagulant container. Automated hematological analyzer (Sysmex-xp300) was used to obtain red blood cells parameters (HB, RBCs, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC ). An automated chemistry analyzer (DIRUI CS-T240) used to determine the plasma homocysteine level. results were analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS version19) computer program. Independent T test was used for data analysis and person’s correlation test was used for correlation. Results showed that there was significant decrease in mean of HCY(μmol/L), RBCs(c/μL), PCV(%) , MCV(ft) in case group when compared with control (3.70±1.03 versus 11.03±1.19, P-value 0.000) ,(4.31±0.39 versus 4.92±0.72,P-value 0.000), (33.88±2.82 versus 41.11±6.19, P-value 0.000), (76.93±9.94 versus 85.87±6.26, P-value 0.000) respectively , there was significant increase in mean of MCH(pg) and MCHC(%) in case group when compared with control group (27.03±2.92 versus 25.49±2.24, p-value 0.015) ,(34.54±1.59 versus 29.59±0.83, P-value 0.000). While there was insignificant difference in mean concentration of Hb(g/dl) in case and control group (11.91±1.4 versus 12.30±1.75, P-value 0.306). Results also showed there was no correlation between values of homocysteine and the Red blood cells parameters: Hb, RBC, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC (R-value-0.013, P-value 0.943), (R-value 0.188, P-value 0.280), (R-value -0.059, P-value 0.736), (R-value -0.035, P-value 0.840) (R-value 0.072, P-value 0.680), (R-value 0.084, P-value 0.631) respectively. There was no correlation between plasma homocysteine and age of pregnant women at their third trimester (R-value=0.040, P-value= 0.820). And there was no correlation between plasma homocysteine and number of pregnancies (R=0.090, P-value =0.605). This study concluded that plasma homocysteine is significantly decreased in pregnant women at their third trimester, and that there is no relationship between plasma homocysteine and red blood cell parameters, age or number of pregnancies.