Abstract

Objectives: To compare serum levels of homocysteine in woman having early onset and late onset pre-eclampsia.

Design of study: Descriptive cross sectional study.

Place and duration: MCH unit II, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad from 20th June 2016 to 20thMay 2017

Methodology: A total of one hundred and fifty patients between 20 to 40 years from 20-41 completed weeks of gestation with pre-eclampsia were included. Preeclampsia was further categorized into early and late depending on onset of P.E before or after 34 weeks. Patients using medications therapy involving anticonvulsant agents, 6-azauridine,anti-folic acids and tamoxifen, and having diseases like cancer or systemic major illness were excluded. Venous blood samples were withdrawn underaseptic technique. Serum homocysteinemeasurement was done by competitive chemo -luminescent enzyme immune assay method.

Results: Mean age was 30.45 ± 5.68 years. Majority of the patients i.e. 86 (57.33%) were between 31 to 40 years of age. Mean gestational age was 31.61 ± 5.09 weeks. Out of these 150 patients, 94 (64.42%) presented with early onset pre-eclampsia and 56 (35.58%) with late onset pre-eclampsia. Mean homocysteine levels in pregnant females with pre-eclampsia were 12.57 ± 3.11 μmol/L.(normal 8μmol/L)Comparison of mean homocysteine levels in pregnant females between early versus late onset pre-eclampsia did not show any statistical significance

Conclusion: Elevated homocysteine is associated with preeclampsia but without any difference between early and late onset P.E

Keywords: Pre-eclampsia, homocysteine levels, prognosis, early onset preeclampsia, Eclampsia, risk factors