Explaining Common Laboratory Reference Changes in Pregnancy

Drs. Alexandra Danakas (PGY-2) and Tamera Paczos have co-authored an article that has been published in an online continuing education OB/GYN curriculum produced by the University.

The article entitled Understanding Basic Maternal and Fetal Laboratory Measures was published in Perifacts on October 1. It describes the specific ways in which changes in physiology in pregnant patients can yield laboratory reference values that may seem abnormal in patients who are not pregnant.

These differences can sometimes be misinterpreted by physicians who use them to diagnose a disease outside of pregnancy. Physicians can be better equipped to manage such patients by better understanding the ways in which fluctuations in hormones and changes to maternal physiology affect the major organ systems.

The article includes a chart listing some of the most common reference ranges, comparing a non-pregnant patient with patients in their first, second, or third trimester.

Bethany Bushen | 9/18/2017

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