Blood Glucose and Haematological Changes in Young Adult Females with Striae Distensae in Owerri, Nigeria

Striae distensae is a skin condition associated with cosmetic morbidity and psychological distress, particularly in young adult females. This study was designed to appraise if there are alterations in blood glucose level and hematological profile of young adult females with Striae distensae. Fouty (40) young adult females with striae distensae and 40 young adult female controls participated in this study. Via venipuncture technique, 5 milliliters of blood were collected from all participants. Two (2) milliliters were dispensed into fluoride oxalate container, while 3 milliliters were dispensed into Ethylene Diamine Tetracetic Acid (EDTA) container, and were analyzed for blood glucose and haematological profile respectively. IBM SPSS version 21 was employed in determination of student t-test and Pearson correlation. Values were accepted to be statistically significant at p<0.05. The result shows significantly lower (p <0.05) total WBC, Platelets, MCV, MCH, MCHC and PDW levels in young adult females with striae distensae (5.14 ± 1.02 x 10^9/L, 140.10 ± 45.74 x 10^9/L, 84.14 ± 5.58 fL, 28.25 ± 2.25 pg, 335.70 ± 6.20 g/L and 15.84 ± 0.59 respectively) compared to the controls (6.18 ± 1.32 x 10^9/L, 195.70 ± 85.79 x 10^9/L, 87.00 ± 4.71 fL, 29.82 ± 1.28 pg, 343.00 ± 5.69 g/L and 16.40 ± 0.39 respectively). Blood Glucose, Eosinophils and PCT levels were significantly higher (p <0.05) in young adult females with striae distensae (101.85 ± 12.69 mg/dL, 2.01 ± 1.32 % and 2.00 ± 0.88 mL/L respectively) compared to the controls (85.80 ± 12.12 mg/dL, 1.16 ± 0.17 %, 1.47 ± 0.48 mL/L respectively). There was non-significant difference (p >0.05) in Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, RBC, Haemoglobin, HCT and MPV levels in young adult females with striae distensae compared to the controls. There was a significant negative correlation of total WBC with Eosinophil (r = -0.651, p = 0.002) in young adult females with striae distensae. In conclusion, the higher levels of blood glucose, eosinophils, MCHC and PCT parallels lower levels of total WBC, platelets, MCV, MCH and PDW observed in young adult females with striae distensa. This may be associated with the development of striae distensae in this environment.