title: Lactic dehydrogenase as a biochemical marker of adverse pregnancy outcome in severe pre-eclampsia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pre-eclampsia is a specific disease of pregnancy with multisystem complications. We conducted this study to examine the relationship between lactic dehydrogenase concentration and the severity of the disease and the occurrence of its complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eleven pre-eclamptic women (49 with mild and 62 with severe pre-eclampsia) and 60 healthy normotensive controls were studied prospectively at the King Hussein Medical Center between January and December 2002. Demographic, hemodynamic, and laboratory data were compared among the three groups. The symptoms and complications of severe pre-eclampsia along with fetal outcome were analyzed according to the levels of LDH (<600, 600-800, and >800 IU/l). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the chi-square test were used to compare the results. Differences were considered significant when p<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of severe pre-eclampsia was 1.3%. Severely pre-eclamptic patients were significantly younger, with low gravidity and parity. On the other hand, they had significantly increased systolic and diastolic pressure and liver enzymes, uric acid, urine albumin, and LDH levels. The symptoms and complications of pre-eclampsia along with perinatal mortality were increased significantly in patients with LDH >800 IU/l compared with those who had lower levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lactic dehydrogenase is a useful biochemical marker that reflects the severity of and the occurrence of complications of pre-eclampsia. Identification of high-risk patients with elevated levels of lactic dehydrogenase, their close monitoring, and prompt, correct management may prevent these complications, with a subsequent decrease in maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Hussein Medical Center, Amman, Jordan. hqublan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hussein S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Qublan
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ammarin
authors.forename: Osama
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bataineh
authors.forename: Ziad
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Al-Shraideh
authors.forename: Yosef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tahat
authors.forename: Islam
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Awamleh
authors.forename: Basel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Khreisat
authors.forename: Bassam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nussair
authors.forename: Zouhair Odeh
authors.initials: ZO
authors.lastname: Amarin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase