Elevated plasma homocysteine in early pregnancy: a risk factor for the development of nonsevere preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
We have recently demonstrated that an elevated plasma homocysteine in early pregnancy is associated with the development of severe preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to determine whether an elevated plasma homocysteine in early pregnancy is also associated with the development of nonsevere preeclampsia.


METHODS
Blood was obtained from patients attending for a first antenatal visit. Subjects were asymptomatic women who subsequently developed nonsevere preeclampsia. Controls were matched for parity, gestational age, and date of sample collection. Plasma homocysteine was measured using fluorescence polarization immunoassay.


RESULTS
There were 71 cases of nonsevere preeclampsia sampled at a mean gestational age (+/-SD) of 15.9+/-3.6 weeks and 142 controls at 15.6+/-3.4 weeks. The preeclampsia cases had a mean (+/-SD) homocysteine level of 8.4+/-2.4 micromol/L, whereas controls had a mean homocysteine of 7.07+/-1.5 micromol/L (P</=.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Women who develop nonsevere preeclampsia have higher plasma homocysteine levels in early pregnancy compared with women who remain normotensive throughout pregnancy. An elevated plasma homocysteine value in early pregnancy may be associated with a 4-fold increased risk for development of nonsevere preeclampsia.
Cotter
Amanda M
AM
Department of Biochemistry, Trinity College Dublin and Coombe Women's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. acotter@med.miami.edu
Molloy
Anne M
AM
Scott
John M
JM
Daly
Sean F
SF
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D006710:Homocysteine