We performed a prospective, descriptive and observational study where all patients with hypertensive disorders admitted to the obstetrics and gynecology service of a specialty hospital were recruited. Patients who provided signed informed consent underwent peripheral blood smear. Results were tabulated in percentage graphics and analyzed with Cramer's V based on 蠂2. The peripheral blood smear consisted of an extended drop of peripheral blood from the patient with subsequent hematological staining done with Romanowsky stain.
A total of 119 samples were analyzed; 74% showed abnormal morphology of erythrocytes and the most frequent abnormality was the presence of schistocytes in up to 39% of samples. Descriptive analysis showed a degree of association to independent variables with Cramer's V = 0.41 value (p <0.05).
A high percentage of patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy show some morphologic alterations of erythrocytes in peripheral blood smear.