Comparison of the Differential Distribution of Leukocytes in Preeclampsia versus Uncomplicated Pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: To describe leukocyte count and differential distribution in preeclampsia and uncomplicated pregnancy. Study design: Blood samples were obtained from 46 consecutive preeclamptic patients and 46 controls with uncomplicated pregnancy. Thirty met the criteria for mild preeclampsia and 16 for severe. The blood was tested within 1 h of venepuncture. An aliquot of the blood was tested in the Cell-Dyn 2000 for complete blood cell count. Main Results: The absolute neutrophil count was significantly elevated in preeclamptic patients as compared with that of controls with uncomplicated pregnancy (9,410.1 ± 3,066.9 vs. 7,498.6 ± 2,354.0 × 10⁶/l, p < 0.05). In neutrophils, the elevation was more prominent in severe preeclamptic patients as compared with mild preeclamptic patients (10,658.8 ± 3520.4 vs. 8,694.4 ± 2,561.9 × 10⁶/l, p < 0.05). The absolute lymphocyte and eosinophil counts declined in patients with preeclampsia as compared with uncomplicated pregnancy, whereas monocyte and basophil counts did not differ. Conclusion: Our results suggest that preeclampsia is associated with an increase in the absolute neutrophil count.

Systemic inflammatory indices in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia

“…Contrary to a previous study (Lurie et al, 1998), we found no significant differences for lymphocyte and monocyte counts in pre-eclampsia compared with normal pregnancy, although there was an increasing trend. Reduced concentrations of shedded L-selectin may allow more continuous and stronger attachment between the leukocytes and the endothelium (Kanekura et al, 1996).…”

“…Thus, reduced concentrations of shedded L-selectin may allow more continuous and stronger attachment between the neutrophils and endothelium (Kanekura et al, 1996). Previous studies have shown that pregnancy is accompanied by leukocytosis, with the segmented neutrophil component of white blood cells (WBC) being primarily responsible for the majority of the increase (Lurie et al, 1998). The results of our study confirm evidence that the leukocyte and neutrophil counts were significantly increased in the sera of women with normal pregnancy compared with the non-pregnant controls.…”

Systemic Inflammatory Priming in Normal Pregnancy and Preeclampsia: The Role of Circulating Syncytiotrophoblast Microparticles

“…Earlier reports (7,31) have shown iTreg, like nTreg, possess regulatory function and suppress CD4 ϩ T cell proliferation in coculture experiments. We verified that our Foxp3 ϩ iTreg were similarly capable of suppressing T cell expansion using quantitative flow cytometry (Fig.…”

“…In normal pregnancy, there is a monocytosis from an early stage (30) which might contribute to at least part of the differences, relative to the nonpregnant control women, in the different gestational patterns for secreted and intracellular TNF-␣ and to a lesser extent for IL12p70. In pre-eclampsia, there is no consensus about changes in monocytes counts relative to normal pregnancy (31,32). Monocyte counts were not available to interpret these results; thus, this possibility cannot be discounted, but it is unlikely given the evidence for inflammatory priming during pregnancy in animals (12) and humans (17).…”

Neutrophils Infiltrate Resistance-Sized Vessels of Subcutaneous Fat in Women With Preeclampsia

“…To study if neutrophils adhere to endothelium and infiltrate systemic resistance-sized vessels in women with preeclampsia, we used immunohistochemistry to evaluate: (1) vascular smooth muscle expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8), a potent neutrophil chemotactic agent and activator of neutrophils; (2) endothelial expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), an adhesion molecule that binds ␤-integrins on the neutrophil surface, causing them to adhere and flatten onto the endothelium before infiltration; and (3) neutrophil activation and infiltration into systemic vascular tissue. We evaluated neutrophils in preference of other leukocytes because: (1) they are the most abundant of the leukocytes; (2) their numbers increase in pregnancy; 3 (3) their numbers further increase in preeclampsia; 15 and (4) they produce toxic substances (thromboxane, ROS, myeloperoxidase, and tumor necrosis factor-␣), 1,16 which could be responsible for vasoconstriction and vascular cell dysfunction. We hypothesized that in women with preeclampsia, there would be increased expression of vascular smooth muscle IL-8 and endothelial ICAM-1 coincident with infiltration of neutrophils into maternal systemic vascular tissue.…”