title: Decreased first trimester uric acid production in future preeclamptic patients.
abstract: The relationship between first trimester uric acid production and later development of pregnancy induced hypertensive disorders (PIHD) was investigated. An anti-oxidant role for uric acid has been mentioned. Since uric acid and fibronectin (PF) are both markers of preeclampsia, the relationship between these two substances was also studied. Controls (n = 72) and patients with PIHD (n = 120) were selected. Uric acid was measured in serum and 24-hours urine samples (uric acid excretion) and PF in blood plasma in 270 nulliparous women at 13 +/- 2 weeks of gestation. Uric acid excretion was significantly lower in the first trimester in a group of patients who later develop PIHD as compared to patients who remain normotensive (p < 0.05), especially when corrected for body weight (p < 0.01). Patients with elevated PF levels in the first trimester showed a significantly lower uric acid excretion than patients with normal PF levels (p < 0.05). The data show diminished uric acid production in patients who will likely develop preeclampsia suggesting an impaired anti-oxidant production in the first trimester. This observation fits well with the hypothesis that an imbalance between anti-oxidant and oxidants plays an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Paarlberg
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: van Geijn
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Schipper
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bast
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kostense
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Dekker
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000652:urine*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000652:urine*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000143:Acids