Activity of hepatic enzymes from week sixteen of pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence, epidemiology, and mother-child repercussions of increased alanine-aminotransferase levels from week 16 of pregnancy.


METHODS
A longitudinal observational study of 381 pregnant women. The cause of increased alanine-aminotransferase levels during pregnancy and repercussions on the neonate were studied in 283 cases. Statistical analysis was performed with Mann-Whitney test, chi2 test, or the Fisher exact test.


RESULTS
The mean age of the mothers was 29.9 +/- 4.8 years. Twenty-five percent presented increased gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase, alkaline phophatase, and dehydrogenase lactate from week 32. Increased alanine-aminotransferase was observed in 7.4% (95% CI, 5.00%-10.57%) of cases. Clinical disorders were light, transitory, and with no apparent cause, except for 1 hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets (HELLP) syndrome, 3 preeclampsias, and 1 gravidic cholestasis. No statistically significant differences were observed in the group of mother-child with alanine-aminotransferase normal or increased.


CONCLUSIONS
Most increases in alanine-aminotransferase from week 16 of pregnancy are transitory, non-specific, and have no repercussions on mother or child.
Ruiz-Extremera
Angeles
A
Pediatrics Service, H. Universitario San Cecilio, Granada, Spain. arextrem@ugr.es
López-Garrido
María A
MA
Barranco
Enriqueta
E
Quintero
María D
MD
Ocete-Hita
Esther
E
Muñoz de Rueda
Paloma
P
Gila
Ana
A
Salmerón
Javier
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase