Neutrophil hypersegmentation and folic acid deficiency in pregnancy

Quantified neutrophil hypersegmentation, expressed as the elevated lobe average, is suggested as a specific, accurate, and reasonably sensitive method to detect and define folic acid deficiency of pregnancy prior to overt manifestations of the disease state. The statistical norm for neutrophil nuclear segmentation in pregnant and nonpregnant members of a clinic population is derived. Thirty-seven patients with megaloblastic marrow change are discussed with emphasis on certain biochemical parameters, infant outcome, and obstetric and medical complications. The lobe average can be utilized to investigate the importance of folic acid in antepartum care and to determine if deficiency of this vitamin can be implicated as a proximate cause of specific reproductive casualty.