BackgroundAlthough the exact pathophysiology of preeclampsia is not completely understood, the utility of different platelets indices can be utilized to predict preeclampsia.ObjectiveTo compare platelet indices, namely platelet count (PC), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and PC to MPV ratio in women with preeclampsia compared with healthy controls.SettingQassim Hospital, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.DesignA case–control study. Sixty preeclamptic women were the cases and an equal number of healthy pregnant women were the controls.ResultsThere was no significant difference in age, parity, and body mass index between the study groups. Sixteen and 44 of the cases were severe and mild preeclampsia, respectively. There was no significant difference in PDW and MPV between the preeclamptic and control women. Both PC and PC to MPV ratios were significantly lower in the women with preeclampsia compared with the controls. There was no significant difference in the PC, PDW, MPV, and PC to MPV ratio when women with mild and severe preeclampsia were compared. Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, the PC cutoff was 248.0×103/µL for diagnosis of pre-eclampsia (P=0.019; the area under the ROC curve was 62.4%). Binary regression suggests that women with PC <248.010×103/µL were at higher risk of preeclampsia (odds ratio =2.2, 95% confidence interval =1.08–4.6, P=0.03). The PC/MPV cutoff was 31.2 for diagnosis of preeclampsia (P=0.035, the area under the ROC curve was 62.2%).ConclusionPC <248.010×103/µL and PC to MPV ratio 31.2 are valid predictors of preeclampsia.

Objectives:To determine the frequency of antibody seropositivity of Toxoplasma gondii infection in a cancer patient population. We also explored on association of Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity with selected variables.Methods:This is a prospective cross-sectional study conducted at Prince Faisal bin Bandar cancer center, Qassim, Saudi Arabia, from November 2014 to March 2015. One hundred thirty seven patients were involved in the study. Demographic data was collected using structured questionnaire, and clinical information was retrieved from the patient’s medical reports. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique was used for antibody assay.Results:The frequency of seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii infection was 30.6%. The patient’s age range from 1.5-84 years with a geometric mean of 42.7 years. The seropositivity was significantly higher (p<0.05) among the 40-80 years age group (71.4%) as compared to 0-39 years one (28.6%).Conclusion:The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii increases with increasing age among cancer patients in this region of central Saudi Arabia. More research is advisable for better understanding of ageing in pathogenesis of toxoplasmosis among patients with malignancies.