Neutrophil-lymphocyte and Platelet-lymphocyte Ratios of Pregnant Women Living with HIV/AIDS

Background: Chronic inflammation, a factor for high mortality, persists throughout the pregnancy period of women living with human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Aim: To determine whether pregnancy alone or the combined effects of HIV and pregnancy are the sources of the inflammation, this study evaluated the predictive variables for inflammation, lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR).

Materials and Methods: A population of 128 women, aged 15-49 years were grouped into 4; Group A- 32 HIV positive and pregnant, Group B- 32 HIV negative and pregnant, Group C- 32 HIV positive not pregnant, Group D- 32 HIV negative not pregnant (control group). Differential white blood cell and platelet count methods were used to determine the neutrophil (N), Lymphocyte (L) and platelet (P) counts. The ratio calculation method was used to derive the NLR and PLR.

Results: NLR was significantly higher for group A (2.62±0.41) compared to groups B (2.25 ± 0.18); C (0.95 ± 0.07); D (1.68 ± 0.19) at p ≤ 0.00. However, the NLR of groups A and B (p ≤ 0.05) were not significantly different, PLR was significantly higher for group A (9.86±1.12) compared to groups B (6.65 ± 1.12); C (5.35 ± 0.47); D (6.34 ± 0.43). There was no significant difference in blood pressure across the groups, significant difference was however observed in their Body Mass Index.

Conclusion: Hence, Inflammation may have been caused by pregnancy alone.