title: Activity of hepatic enzymes from week sixteen of pregnancy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics Service, H. Universitario San Cecilio, Granada, Spain. arextrem@ugr.es
authors.forename: Angeles
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Extremera
authors.forename: María A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: López-Garrido
authors.forename: Enriqueta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barranco
authors.forename: María D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Quintero
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ocete-Hita
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muñoz de Rueda
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gila
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salmerón
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase