Haematological Parameters of Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State, South South Nigeria

This study evaluates haematological parameters in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State, South South Nigeria. Gestational diabetes is associated with altered blood viscosity, platelet hyperactivation, and increased oxidative stress, all of which may produce measurable haematological changes with implications for maternal and foetal outcomes. A case-control study recruited 80 pregnant women with confirmed GDM based on the 2013 WHO diagnostic criteria and 80 normoglycaemic pregnant women of comparable gestational age from the same antenatal clinic. Full blood count parameters, haematocrit, red cell distribution width (RDW), MPV, and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were assessed. Results showed significantly elevated haematocrit, MPV, and RDW in GDM patients compared to normoglycaemic controls. Anaemia was less prevalent in GDM patients (22.5%) than controls (38.8%), attributed to haemoconcentration from increased erythropoietic drive. HbA1c correlated positively with MPV and RDW, suggesting that poor glycaemic control amplifies platelet and red cell abnormalities. Leucocytosis, predominantly neutrophilia, was significantly more common in GDM patients, consistent with the pro-inflammatory state of insulin resistance. Haematological monitoring including platelet indices and RDW is recommended as part of GDM surveillance to identify patients at elevated thrombotic and inflammatory risk. Keywords: gestational diabetes, haematological parameters, mean platelet volume, red cell distribution width, Irrua.