Serum homocysteine in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia

Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull. 2008 Apr;34(1):16-20. doi: 10.3329/bmrcb.v34i1.1165.

Abstract

Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are common obstetrical problem causing adverse effects on pregnancy outcome. Large bodies of evidences suggest that hyperhomocysteinemia is a causal factor of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. This study designed to explore the association between hyperhomocysteinemia and pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, the knowledge of which expected to be used for prevention of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. In a case-control study serum homocysteine was measured in 136 controls (healthy pregnant), 84 pre-eclamptic and 120 eclamptic pregnant women. Serum homocysteine in patients with pre-eclampsia (9.54 +/- 3.21 micromol/L) and eclampsia (10.57 +/- 3.39 micromol/L) found to be significantly increased compared to controls (6.86 +/- 2.47 micromol/L) (p < 0.001). Between pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, homocysteine found to be raised more in eclampsia compared to pre-eclampsia (p < 0.03). In conclusion, hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with pre-eclampsia as well as eclampsia, but in eclampsia the severity of homocysteine elevation is more compared to that in pre-eclampsia.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bangladesh
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Eclampsia / blood
  • Eclampsia / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Homocysteine / blood*
  • Humans
  • Hyperhomocysteinemia / blood
  • Hyperhomocysteinemia / physiopathology*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Pre-Eclampsia / blood
  • Pre-Eclampsia / physiopathology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Homocysteine