Homocysteine as Predictive Marker for Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension-A Comparative Study of Homocysteine Levels in Normal Versus Patients of PIH and Its Complications

Objective: To find the correlation between serum homocysteine levels, relevant laboratory investigations and complications associated with PIH.

Methods: This was a prospective study conducted over 2 years. Two hundred and fourteen cases were studied. They were divided into mild preeclampsia (64), severe preeclampsia (50), eclampsia (32) and control groups (68). Parameters evaluated for statistical analysis were blood pressure, platelet counts, SGOT, SGPT and serum homocysteine levels.

Results: A definite statistical correlation was found between the homocysteine levels and severity of hypertension (8 mmol/l, p = .759). A higher level of homocysteine was also associated with many maternal complications like abruption, retinopathy, MODS, maternal mortality and eclampsia. Sixty-nine out of 87 patients with elevated homocysteine levels were complicated with some or the other condition, making a high percentage of 79.31 %. Patients with normal level of homocysteine delivered healthy babies (88.1 %). There were 6 maternal mortalities and 20 stillbirths in the hyperhomocysteinemia group.

Conclusion: Homocysteine levels have a direct statistical correlation with the severity of hypertension and complication with preeclampsia and eclampsia. It can be considered as a reliable predictive marker for PIH and its wide syndrome.