Impact of malaria parasitaemia on haematologic parameters in pregnant women at booking in Ilorin, Nigeria

We determined the pattern of haematological parameters in malaria in pregnancy. Five hundred pregnant women who presented for booking in the antenatal clinic of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria were recruited. Their blood samples were analyzed for malaria parasites, MCV, MCHC and MCI IC. WBC, absolute RBC count, platelet count, haemoglobin level and PCV. The prevalence of peripheral malaria parasitaemia at booking was 32.4%, out of which 46.9 and 53.1% had moderate and high parasite densities, respectively. Plasmodium falciparum was the only species identified. The MCHC was higher in malaria parasitaemia (34.28 g dL-1±1.72, p = 0.0452) while RBC was higher without parasitaemia (10.46×1012 L -1±l.30, p = 0.01). The WBC in women with high parasite density (7.02×109 L-1) was higher than the value in those with moderate parasite density (6.26×109 L-l) p = 0.03). Asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection in pregnancy is associated with higher MCHC; WBC increases with rise in the parasite density in Ilorin, Nigeria. A rise in MCHC and WBC in pregnancy may indicate malaria. © 2009 Academic Journals Inc.