Association of Maternal Hyperhomocysteinemia with Preeclampsia: A Hospital Based Case-Control Study

Abstract

Introduction: Preeclampsia is among the leading causes of feto-maternal morbidity and mortality throughout the world, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. The exact pathophysiology of preeclampsia is still unclear but recent research on homocysteine shows its important role.

Aims & Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine association of high serum homocysteine level with preeclampsia among antenatal women.

Place and duration of study: Tertiary Care Hospitals of Lahore (Services, Lahore General Hospital and Sir Ganga Ram Hospitals) from 1^st January 2019 to 30^th June 2019.

Material & Methods: A matched case-control design was employed. Sixty-six diagnosed pre-eclamptic antenatal women were selected as cases and they were age and gestational weeks matched with sixty-six normotensive antenatal women as control, with a case to control ratio of 1:1. Serum homocysteine level in fasting sample was estimated by Enzyme linked immuno assay. Data was entered and analyzed through SPSS version 20.

Results: The mean plasma homocysteine was significantly higher in cases (16.05 ± 2.25) as compared to controls (9.44±2.83) with a p value <0.001. Highly Significant statistical association was found between Hyperhomocysteinemia and Preeclampsia (p-value < 0.001 with adjusted Odds Ratio of 4.72).

Conclusion: Homocysteine levels a high in preeclamptic women as compared to normotensives showing that hyperhomocysteinemia is significantly associated with preeclampsia in antenatal women.