October 2021 · Volume 10 · Issue 10 Page 3715 International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology Musa AU et al. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Oct;10(10):3715-3724 www.ijrcog.org pISSN 2320-1770 | eISSN 2320-1789 Original Research Article Clinical correlates of plasma antithrombin and protein C levels in patients with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Sokoto, Northwest Nigeria Abubakar U. Musa 1 *, Aisha I. Mamman 2 , Abubakar A. Panti 3 , Abdul Wahab Alhassan 4 , Anas F. Rabiu 3 INTRODUCTION Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy complicate about 10% of pregnancies worldwide and comprise of diseases such as pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, gestational hypertension and chronic hypertension. 1,2 Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia stand out among the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy for their impact on maternal and neonatal health DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20213834 1 Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria 2 Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria 3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria 4 Department of Human Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria Received: 06 August 2021 Accepted: 03 September 2021 *Correspondence: Dr. Abubakar U. Musa, E-mail: abubakarumar38@yahoo.com Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ABSTRACT Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy complicate 17% of pregnancies in Sokoto, Nigeria with pre- eclampsia and eclampsia accounting for 6% and 4.29% respectively. Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia stand out as major causes of poor pregnancy outcomes with eclampsia contributing 46% of adolescent maternal mortality in Sokoto. These disorders increase risk of venous thromboembolism, DIC, placental abruption, IUGR, premature delivery and recurrent pregnancy loss. The roles of antithrombin and protein C in disease severity and outcomes of pregnancies in pre- eclampsia/eclampsia are subject of recent researches albeit with conflicting findings. The aim of the study was to determine the plasma antithrombin and protein C levels of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Sokoto with a view to assessing any relationship with clinical severity and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: Prospective comparative study involving 31 each of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and normotensive pregnancy. Plasma antithrombin and protein C levels were determined via kinetic method using S4 Nortek semi-automated coagulometer. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.0. Results: The mean plasma antithrombin and protein C levels for eclampsia, pre-eclampsia and normotensive pregnancy were (61.17±9.13 and 60.00±5.76) vs (71.24±13.15 and 71.06±6.16) vs (85.54±8.77 and 89.64±7.61) respectively; p=0.0001. Severe pre-eclampsia when compared with mild pre-eclampsia had lower antithrombin (70.21±13.58 vs 73.74±12.43; p=0.507) and protein C (70.52±6.27 vs 72.40±6.00; p=0.451) levels respectively, though without statistical significance. Pre-eclampsia with low plasma antithrombin levels had increased risk of preterm delivery when age, gravidity and booking status were factored (OR, 1.2, 95% CI 0.035 to 0.348, p=0.017). Conclusions: Lower plasma antithrombin and protein C levels were found with eclampsia and severe pre-eclampsia suggesting consumptive depletion of anticoagulants with disease progression. Women with pre-eclampsia and low plasma antithrombin levels were found to have increased odds of having preterm delivery when age, gravidity and booking status were considered. Keywords: Antithrombin, Protein C, Pre-eclampsia, Eclampsia, Pregnancy, Sokoto