Gulshan Ara Saeed, Rehana Hamid, Nasim Begum Khattak.
Serum Uric Acid level as a marker for predicting progression of gestational hypertension to pre-eclampsia and fetal morbidity.
Pak Armed Forces Med J Jan ;53(2):136-41.

This study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Federal Government Services Hospital Islamabad over the year 2001 for Predicting pre-eclampsia in patients with gestational hypertension through maternal hyperuricemia and to see if there is any association between maternal uric acid levels and fetal outcome. All cases presenting with gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia were studied. Three main groups were recognized gestational hypertension (group I), gestational hypertension progressing to pre-eclampsia (group II) pre-eclampsia (group III), and their clinical and laboratory findings were compared at different times in the study. Among other investigations serial serum uric acid levels were performed and their association with maternal disease progression, fetal growth and fetal outcome were seen. Gestational hypertension was present in 409 (71.01 %) of the total 576 cases; with 167 (28.99%) cases of pre eclampsia 86(21.02%) cases out of the 409 cases of GH progressed to PE. Nulliparas accounted for 65.01% cases in-group I, 60.4% cases in group II and 70.04% cases in-group III. Mean serum uric acid levels at delivery were 5.6 +/- 0.3 for groups I, 6.1 +/- 0.76 for group II and 7.02 +/- 1.4 for group III. Mean gestional age at delivery was 38+/- 2 weeks for patients with uric acid levels of < 6.4mg/dl with a mean fetal birth weight of 3125 grams and 10% babies being small for gestational age. Whereas with serum uric acid of >=6.4 mg/dl mean gestational age at delivery became 35.5+/-2 weeks with a mean birth weight of 2774 grams and 28% babies were small for gestational age. Maternal hyperuricemia is a strong predictor of maternal disease progression and fetal outcome. Thus it can be used as a useful and inexpensive marker for predicting preeclampsia and fetal growth retardation in women presenting with gestational hypertension.

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