Status of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in preeclampsia and preterm birth

Objective: To examine the effect of low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OH D) levels and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLRs) on preeclampsia and preterm birth. Methods: A total of 180 pregnant women who gave birth at the Istanbul Medipol University Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic between 2014 and 2017 were enrolled in the study. The study group consisted of 61 preeclamptic women (n=61) and 74 women (n=74) with preterm births, and the control group consisted of 45 women (n=45) with term births. The demographic, obstetric and laboratory results of all three groups were compared according to 25-OH D levels and NLRs. Results: There was no statistically significant difference among the three groups in terms of BMI, abortus numbers and socioeconomic status (p>0.05). Maternal age, gravida, parity, gestational week, birth weight and Apgar scores were significantly lower in the preeclamptic and preterm groups compared to the control group (p<0.05). 25OH D levels were found to be significantly lower in preeclamptic and preterm pregnancies compared to term pregnancies (18.2±4.3 ng/ml; 19.1±3.7 ng/ml; 34±5.1 ng/ml, p<0.05, respectively) while the NLR was significantly higher in the preeclampsia and preterm birth group compared to the term birth group (3.96±1.23, 3.98 ±1.34, 3.22±1.24, p<0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Low levels of 25-OH D and increased NLR are likely to play a role in spontaneous preterm birth and preeclampsia etiology. The impact of maternal vitamin D supplementation on the improvement of maternal, fetal and neonatal health is not clear, but more extensive research is needed on the potential positive effects.