Haemorheological investigations in the early identification of hypertension in pregnancy

Abstract

Haemorheological investigations and plasma fibrinogen estimations have been carried out on blood samples from obstetric patients who were normotensive at the time of testing but subsequently developed hypertension. Pregnancy induced hypertension can be an early indication of impending pre-eclampsic toxaemia (PET) hence the early identification of such patients has the potential to improve ante natal care. Statistically significant differences from the control group in whole blood viscosity and plasma fibrinogen have been found in this study.