Serum urate, complement 3 and pre-eclampsia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a frequent complication of pregnancies in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The diagnosis of PE is usually based on clinical features such as hypertension and proteinuria, which could also be features of SLE disease exacerbation. As the management of these conditions is different, tests that could confirm the diagnosis of pre-eclampsia would be helpful. Previous studies have shown that serum urate is elevated in PE, while a fall in serum complement 3 occurs in exacerbation of SLE. In this study we looked at the serum urate and complement 3 levels in a group of SLE patients who were in remission before pregnancy. Patients who developed PE had a significantly higher serum urate level while their serum complement 3 level was similar to patients without PE. Our results suggest that measurement of serum urate together with serum complement 3 would help to diagnose PE, and delivery should not be delayed, especially if intra-uterine growth retardation is suspected, in order to avoid intra-uterine death.
Lao
T T
TT
Obstetrics Unit, Princess Margaret Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Leung
B F
BF
D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010976:Platelet Count; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D003176:Complement C3; D014527:Uric Acid