Publication:

Role of IDH as a prognostic marker in preeclampsia/eclampsia: a comparative case control study

Background Preeclampsia is a multisystem disorder which complicates 5-8% of all pregnancies. LDH is an intracellular enzyme and its level is increased in these women due to cellular death. Serum LDH levels can be used to assess the extent of cellular death and thereby the severity of disease in this group of women.

Methods It was a prospective case control study. Data was analysed using SPSS 16.0. The sample comprised of approximately 154 cases. All patients were of gestational age 28 weeks and above. They were divided into three groups 45 normotensives, 40 mild pre-eclamptics, 41 severe pre-eclamptics and 28 eclamptics.

Results Serum LDH levels consistently increased with increasing systolic and diastolic blood pressure, more so with diastolic blood pressure with a p value of <0.001. Most of the women with severe preeclampsia and eclampsia had severe proteinuria and serum LDH significantly increased with the severity of proteinuria (p<0.00). The incidence of operative delivery was moderately elevated with increased LDH level. The mean gestational age at the time of delivery in patients with serum LDH less than 600, 600 to 800 and more than 800 are 37.94 35.36 and 33.87 weeks. The mean baby weight in patients with serum LDH less than 600, 600 to 800 and more than 800 was 2.80, 2.62 and 1.81 kg.

Conclusions Serum LDH values were significantly high in pre-eclamptic patients depending on the severity of the disease. Serum LDH levels had a good correlation with all the diagnostic components of preeclampsia like SBP, DBP and proteinuria, similarly with maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.