Role of the systemic immune-inflammation index in threatened abortion patients and predicting of abortion.

PURPOSE: Our study aimed to compare the systemic immune inflammation index (SII), one of the hematological inflammation parameters, between pregnant women diagnosed with threatened abortion (TA) and healthy pregnant women, and to evaluate the prediction of abortion in pregnant women with TA. METHODS: This retrospective study compared 150 patients with TA group and 150 age- and gestational week-matched healthy pregnant women (control group). Complete blood count parameters were assessed. SII, white blood cells (WBC), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), red cell distribution width (RDW), plateletcrit (PCT), platelet distribution width and monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR) values were calculated. The SII value was calculated as follows: platelet count × (neutrophil/lymphocyte). RESULTS: SII, NLR, MLR, WBC, RDW, and PCT values were significantly higher in the TA group compared to the control group (923 ± 683 vs. 579 ± 364 [p < 0.001], 3.3 ± 2.0 vs. 2.1 ± 1.1 [p < 0.001], 0.3 ± 0.1 vs. 0.2 ± 0.2 [p < 0.001], 9.84 ± 2.87 vs. 8.6 ± 1.6 [p < 0.001], 13.9 ± 1.9 vs. 14.4 ± 2.3 [p = 0.032] and 0.3 ± 0.1 vs. 0.2 ± 0.0 [p < 0.001], respectively). Using receiver operating characteristics curve analysis to predict abortion in AI patients, the highest area under the curve was found for SII (0.727 for SII and 0.666 for NLR). CONCLUSION: SII, NLR, MLR, RDW, and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) levels were significantly increased in patients with TA. This study supports the idea that several inflammatory pathways may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disorder. SII may be a much better marker than NLR and PLR for predicting the inflammatory status of the disease and abortion in an ongoing pregnancy.

Does wearing double surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic reduce maternal oxygen saturation in term pregnant women?: A prospective study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effects of using single and double surgical masks (SM) on maternal oxygen saturation in pregnant women. METHODS: In this prospective study, single or double SM were worn by term pregnant women who applied for routine controls. The vital signs of the participants such as oxygen saturation, pulse, respiratory rate, fever, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured at admission and 30 min later. RESULTS: There were 223 participants in the single SM group and 231 participants in the double SM group. Thirty minutes after putting on the mask, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients whose oxygen saturation fell below 95 (3.6 vs 5.6%, p = 0.301). No significant difference was observed between the admission and 30 min oxygen saturation levels of the pregnant women in the single SM group. However, maternal oxygen saturation after 30 min of the pregnant women in the double SM group was significantly lower (97.4 ± 1.1 vs 96.6 ± 1.3, p < 0.001). No significant changes were observed in the vital signs of either groups. CONCLUSION: When using double SM, oxygen saturation is significantly reduced compared to pre-mask values. Nevertheless, it seems difficult to say that these decreases have clinical significance.

Does mild thrombocytopenia increase peripartum hemorrhage in elective cesarean deliveries? A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of mild thrombocytopenia (platelet count: 100 000-149 000/µl) on peripartum hemorrhage in elective cesarean deliveries. METHODS: This study was conducted between January 2018 and May 2019 in a hospital, located in Konya, Turkey. Uncomplicated pregnancies undergoing elective cesarean section were included. Of 1992 eligible patients, 201 women were determined as the mild thrombocytopenia group, 48 women as the severe thrombocytopenia group, and 1743 women as the control group. The estimated blood loss volume (EBLV), the need for blood transfusion, and excessive blood loss rates were compared among groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: The EBLV and excessive blood loss ratios were significantly higher in the mild thrombocytopenia group compared with the control group (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). There was no significant difference between the mild thrombocytopenia and control groups in terms of the number of patients receiving a blood transfusion. The probability of excessive blood loss was significantly higher in the mild thrombocytopenia group, even after adjusting the odds ratio for confounding factors (adjusted odds ratio 1.94, 95% confidence interval 1.27-2.95, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Mild thrombocytopenia appears to increase the likelihood of peripartum hemorrhage in elective cesarean deliveries in uncomplicated pregnancies.