Evaluation of Fibrinolytic Parameters in Pregnant Women Attending Specialist Hospital, Sokoto

Abstract

Pregnancy has been characterised by raised fibrinolytic markers which is a potent system to protect against excesive clotting and coagulation during pregnancy. However, some complications, such as bleeding and eclampsia can occur before and after delivery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the trimester at which fibrinolytic parameters increase during pregmanacy in order to provide approprates advice on the monitoring of these parmeters. Twenty -one (21) pregnant women in the 1", 2nd, and 3” trimesters were recruited for this study while 21 apparently healthy non-pregnant women (controls). The 21 pregnant women were tested at 1° 2" and 3" trimester of pregnancy before delivery (prepartum) and after delivery (post-parturm). They were recruited from patients attending the prenatal and postnatal clinics of a Specialist Hospital in Sokoto, North West Nigeria. The result shows no significant difference in D-dimer and plasminogen, when compared with the control (p < 0.05) in the 1st and 2™ trimesters. However, a significant increase in Fibrinogen Degradation Products (FDP) and plasminogen when compared to controls (p < 0.05) in the 3" trimester was observed. However, there is no significant difference in pre and post-partum (p < 0.05).Our finding shows that there is an increase in FDP and plaminogen at the 3" trimester, but not in pre- partum and post-partum samples, suggesting that patients should be monitored at the 3rd trimester for FDP and plasminogen level to avoid any possible risk of bleeding after delivery, futher research is needed using more number of participants to justifiy this result.