Effect of homocysteine on pregnancy: A systematic review

Chem Biol Interact. 2018 Sep 25:293:70-76. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2018.07.021. Epub 2018 Jul 24.

Abstract

Research purpose was to put together the available pieces of present scientific data and to close the gap in the knowledge of Hcy levels in pregnancy and its association with some pregnancy complications. Scientific data were taken from research papers published between January 1990 and December 2017, and found on the Internet (PubMed, ClinicalKey and Embase databases) by the following tags entered in English, Russian, French and German languages: pregnancy, homocysteine, pregnancy complications, pregnancy loss, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and placental abruption. The review showed that Hcy levels range in uncomplicated pregnancy. Upon that, Hcy level tends to decrease during the second and third trimesters. Some studies have revealed a link between polymorphism and abortion. Sufficient data were obtained indicating the relationship between HHcy and PE. Placental abruption was also associated with high Hcy levels increasing the risk 5.3-fold, but still there are data not supporting the hypothesis that Hcy levels correlate with placental abruption.

Keywords: Homocysteine (Hcy); Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy); Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR); Placental abruption; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy complications.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Spontaneous / metabolism
  • Abortion, Spontaneous / pathology*
  • Abruptio Placentae / metabolism
  • Abruptio Placentae / pathology*
  • Female
  • Fetal Growth Retardation / metabolism
  • Fetal Growth Retardation / pathology*
  • Homocysteine / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / genetics
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Pre-Eclampsia / metabolism
  • Pre-Eclampsia / pathology*
  • Pregnancy

Substances

  • Homocysteine
  • MTHFR protein, human
  • Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)