Assessment of Maternal Hematological Parameters, Kidney and Liver Injury Markers Across Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: /Objectives: Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) such as prematurity, low birth weight, stillbirth, and birth defects remain significant global health challenges. While many risk factors are known, APOs encompass a wide range of outcomes with diverse, sometimes poorly understood etiologies. Pregnancy-related acute kidney injury (PR-AKI) and liver injury are particularly associated with increased maternal and fetal mortality. This study investigated the association between hematological parameters, kidney and liver injury markers and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 714 pregnant women aged 18-40 years, conducted between March 2021 and August 2022. Maternal blood samples were collected before and after delivery to compare hematological parameters. Kidney and liver injury markers were measured using standard methods. The study analyzed the association of these parameters with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Results: The median age of participants was 24 years (Q1, Q3: 21, 26). Women with adverse pregnancy outcomes had statistically significant serum creatinine levels [0.52 mg/dL (0.45, 0.58)] compared to those without [0.50 mg/dL (0.44, 0.56)], although the difference was not clinically significant. Elevated AST levels (>90th percentile) were statistically associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni corrections revealed significant differences in Hb, WBC, RBC, platelet, and PCV levels before and after delivery (p<0.05) in both groups. Conclusions: This study highlights a small but significant association of elevated serum creatinine and AST levels with adverse pregnancy outcomes, suggesting their potential role as accessible biomarkers for early risk identification in clinical settings.