Inflammatory markers in covid-19 positive pregnant women: Insights from a comparative study

The COVID-19 pandemic has wrought significant repercussions on lives worldwide. Pregnancy, a period marked by profound physiological changes, renders women susceptible to fluctuations in various biological parameters. The study aimed to fill this void by examining the levels of inflammatory markers, as well as liver and renal function tests, in pregnant women suffering from COVID-19.

This study was conducted to investigate inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), white blood cell (WBC), as well as liver function tests (LFT) and renal function tests (RFT) in pregnant women afflicted with COVID-19. We enrolled 52 COVID-19-positive women (cases) alongside 48 COVID-negative women (controls) who underwent delivery at Dr. D. Y. Patil Hospital and Research Institute in Kolhapur, India. All participants underwent COVID-19 testing via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methodology.

The findings revealed that a majority of cases exhibited elevated WBC counts compared to controls (78.8% versus 27.1%), with D-dimer levels higher in 61.5% of cases versus 12.5% of controls. LFT and RFT abnormalities were observed in 51.9% of cases versus 20.8% of controls. Moreover, LDH and CRP levels were elevated in 71.2% and 90.4% of cases, respectively, in contrast to 16.7% and 10.4% of controls, respectively. Statistical analysis underscored a significant association between deranged laboratory parameters and COVID-19 positivity.

The study underscores the potential exacerbation of inflammatory responses to COVID-19 among pregnant women with preexisting chronic conditions, which may precipitate liver damage. Thus, prioritizing inflammation and liver health management in the treatment regimen for pregnant women with COVID-19, especially those with chronic comorbidities, emerges as imperative.