European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EFFECT OF HYPERURICEMIA ON PRE-ECLAMPTIC, ECLAMPTIC PATENTS AND THEIR FETAL OUTCOME

Nura Audu* and Gadzama A. A.

ABSTRACT

Background: Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are global problem. They are considered as a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Hyperuicemia complicates pre-eclamptic and eclamptic patients as well as their fetal outcome. Aim: To evaluate the serun uric level of both pre-eclamptic and eclamptic patients, and to correlate the serum uric level to the outcome of pregnancy. Material and Methods: It was a comparative horizontal cross-sectional study of pre-eclamptic and eclamptic patients attending State Specialst Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria. Results: Serum uric acid concentrations were significantly higher in both pre-eclamptic and eclamptic subjects (436 + 36 μmol/L and 527 + 80 μmol/L respectively) (P < 0.05) as compared with the age-matched control group (245 + 67 μmol/L). The mean birth weight of infants of eclamptic patients was significantly lower (2.48 + 0.33kg) (P < 0.05) as compared to normal birth weight (>2.80 kg). Conclusion: These results suggest that maternal hyperuricemia is a strong predictor of maternal disease in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: Pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, pregnancy, serum uric morbidity, birthweght, hyperuricemia, mortality, Northeastern Nigeria.