Study of high sensitive c-reactive protein in preeclampsia

Introduction: Preeclampsia is a serious complication of the second half of pregnancy and is an important cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Measurement of circulatory inflammatory markers of endothelial cell dysfunction and inflammation may provide an alternative method of detecting women at high risk of delivery. Women with a history of pre-eclampsia have an increased succeptibiliy to lipoprotein oxidation when compared to women who had normal pregnancy. Aims and objectives: The present study was designed to study hsCRP in association with blood pressure, proteinuria and lipid profile as markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia. Materials and Methods: The present study was carried out for one year on diagnosed patients of Preeclampsia attending the outpatient and inpatient departments of obstetrics and Gynecology department of Narayana Medical College and Hospital, Nellore. The study was undertaken on 50 Preeclampsia cases and 50 normal pregnant women as controls. Results: In our study hs-CRP levels were significantly elevated in cases when compared to control subjects. Total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and LDL values were elevated in total cases when compared to controls. However the decrease in HDL cholesterol was not significant when compared to controls. Conclusion: Elevated levels of LDL undergo oxidation to form oxidized LDL, which is involved in inflammation and free radical generation. Increased inflammation leads to increased levels of hsCRP, which is further associated with dyslipidemia, an important cardiovascular risk factor in preeclampsia.