Homocysteine Levels in Nigerian Women with Pre-eclampsis/Eclampsia
Date
2009-08
Authors
Osunkalu, V.O.
Akanmu, A.S.
Adediran, A.
Abudu, O.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sierra Leone J Biomed Res
Abstract
Hyperhomocysteinaemia has been linked in various studies worldwide to the occurrence of cardiovascular disorders and endothelial cell injury. In Nigeria with one of the highest maternal/neonatal mortality and morbidity, it is significant to explore means of predicting pregnancy-induced hypertension. This study was carried out at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital which is a major referral center in the South-western part of Nigeria. It was set to determine the mean plasma homocysteine levels and corpuscular haemoglobin in pre-eclamptic/eclamptic Nigerian women. A total of 150 subjects consisting of 100 primigravidae and 25 diagnosed cases of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia and 25 non-pregnant females were enrolled in the study. 60 primigravidae were lost to follow up or had incomplete data. The mean value of homocysteine in the control group, and eclamptic group was 7.5±3.4 µmol/L and 16.1±6.5 µmol/L respectively. There is positive and significant correlation between plasma homocysteine in the eclamptic group and the mean MCV (r=0.97, p=0.01), and between plasma homocysteine, systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the eclamptic group (r=0.944, p=0.0001; r=0.98, p=0.0001). The study further supports earlier findings of increased homocysteine levels in the occurrence of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia.
Description
Staff Publications
Keywords
Hyperhomocysteinaemia , Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia , Primigravidae , Cardiovascular disorder , Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE
Citation
Osunkalu VO, Akanmu AS, Adediran A, Abudu O (2009). Homocysteine level in Nigeria women with pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. Sierra Leone J Biomed Res, 1(1):55-60.