Plasma total homocysteine in uncomplicated pregnancy and in preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
(a) To establish the reference values for plasma total homocysteine in our pregnant population. (b) To determine the possible association between hyperhomocysteinemia and preeclampsia in our geographical area.


METHODS
Control-case study with 32 preeclamptic patients and 64 controls without pregnancy complications. Plasma total homocysteine, determined by HPLC (fluorescence detection), was correlated with serum folate and Vitamin B(12) (analyzed by competitive protein binding chemiluminescent assay).


METHODS
Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon and Spearman test (SPSS, 10.0).


RESULTS
Homocysteine concentrations in the controls were significantly higher while folate was significantly lower in the third trimester of pregnancy when compared with the second (P<0.0001). Homocysteine and folate values were significantly higher in patients compared with controls in the third trimester (P=0.005 and 0.005, respectively). The OR for preeclampsia in hyperhomocysteinemia was 7.7 (95% CI: 1.7-34.8).


CONCLUSIONS
Pregnant women with hyperhomocysteinemia have a 7.7-fold risk for preeclampsia (CI 95%: 1.7-34.8) compared with normal controls.
López-Quesada
Eva
E
Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, 08950-Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
Vilaseca
M Antonia
MA
Lailla
Jose M
JM
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005865:Gestational Age; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000150:complications; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12