Publication:

Study of the serum uric acid level as a prognostic indicator in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Background Abnormal uric acid levels in patients with preeclampsia and eclampsia affect both maternal and fetal outcome negatively. This study was done to know the alterations in these serum levels in comparison to normal pregnancy and also among various hypertensive disorders of pregnancies.

Methods Maternal serum uric acid levels were compared among cases and controls in relation to disease severity, mode of delivery, maternal outcome.

Results In group A (cases), 10 patients had raised uric acid levels, of which 5 were severe preeclampsia, 3 were eclampsia and 2 cases of chronic hypertension superimposed preeclampsia. P value is 0.001 (highly significant). Also serum uric acid is significantly elevated in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy compared with controls with a P value of 0.001.

Conclusions Significant correlation was observed between maternal serum uric acid, disease severity and maternal outcome. Our study concludes that uric acid can be considered as a sensitive prognostic indicator of severity in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.