A comparative study of serum uric acid, serum lactate dehydrogenase and serum calcium in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and normal pregnancy

Introduction: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) represents a group of condition with high blood pressure (BP) during pregnancy, proteinuria and in some cases convulsions. It complicates 5-10% of all pregnancy. Hyperuricemia due to oxidative stress is associated with deleterious effects on endothelial function, oxidative metabolism, platelet adhesion and aggregation. Calcium plays a critical role in the function of the cardiac and vascular smooth muscle. Patients with hypertension in pregnancy have benefitted from dietary calcium supplements. Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), an intracellular enzyme, is elevated in cell leakiness, hemolysis and cell death. Aim and Objectives: To study serum Uric acid, LDH and Calcium in HDP and to compare with control. To study its correlation with systolic and diastolic BP in cases. Materials and Methods: A study conducted on 50 cases and 50 controls selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. 3ml of venous blood was drawn to estimate the serum uric acid, LDH and Calcium levels in each subject. Unpaired‘t'-test was used to study changes in the serum levels of uric acid, LDH and calcium in two groups. Pearson's correlation coefficient was applied to correlate serum uric acid, LDH and calcium levels with systolic and diastolic BP in cases. Results: There was statistically significant increase in the levels of serum uric Acid, LDH and statistically decreased levels of serum calcium in cases as compared to controls. Conclusion: Serum uric acid, LDH and calcium could be considered as a supportive diagnostic tool in HDP.