Department of Physiology/ Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria; Department of Physiology, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria; Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria
Nwagha, U.I., Department of Physiology/ Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria; Ejezie, F.E., Department of Physiology, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria; Iyare, E.E., Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria
Background: Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are common in our environment. The aetiology is unknown and the prognostic indicators of the severity of maternal and fetal complications are variable. The level of uric acid, which is one of the prognostic indicators, is altered in normal pregnancy and as pregnancy advances. Base line values are thus extremely important to enable reasonable prognostic assessment in hypertensive pregnancies. Objectives: To determine levels of serum uric acid during normal pregnancy in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu. Study design: settings and methods: Sixty- five pregnant and 65 non-pregnant women with age range 20-38 years were recruited. The pregnant women were in their second and third trimesters, attending antenatal clinic at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu. Serum levels of uric acid were determined for the entire subjects. Results: The serum uric acid levels were significantly lower in the pregnant women than in controls (P< 0.001). 0.15+ 0.03mmol/L in the second trimester, 0.14 +0.02 mmol/L in the third trimester and 0.29 + 0.04 mmol/L for control. Conclusion: The low levels in pregnancy and as pregnancy progresses should be taken into consideration when monitoring hypertensive disorders in pregnancy using serum uric acid. Thus levels that are within normal for non pregnant population may indeed be an indication for intervention in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia.
