title: Erythrocyte folate content and serum folic acid and homocysteine levels in preeclamptic primigravidae teenagers living at high altitude.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure erythrocyte folate content and serum folic acid and homocysteine (Hcy) levels in preeclamptic primigravidae teenagers living at high altitude.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measured analytes were compared to those found in normal teen controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Teenagers complicated with preeclampsia displayed significantly lower hematocrit and erythrocyte folic acid levels with higher serum Hcy levels as compared to controls (36.40 ± 4.90 vs. 38.99 ± 2.89 %, 493.80 ± 237.30 vs. 589.90 ± 210.60 ng/mL, and 7.29 ± 2.52 vs. 5.97 ± 1.41 μmol/L, respectively, p < 0.05). There was a non-significant trend for lower serum folic acid levels among preeclampsia teenagers. Serum and erythrocyte folic acid levels positively correlated in preeclampsia teenagers, and levels of both analytes inversely correlated with Hcy levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study found that teenagers complicated with preeclampsia living at higher altitude displayed lower erythrocyte folate content in addition to higher serum Hcy levels. More research is warranted to determine the clinical implications of these findings.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Gineco-Obstétrico Isidro Ayora, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yanez
authors.forename: Carlos J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Vásquez
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodas
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Durán
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chedraui
authors.forename: Kim H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Liem
authors.forename: Faustino R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Pérez-López
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Teran
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D020073:Gravidity; D006400:Hematocrit; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid