An observational study on the association of biomarkers such as maternal C-reactive protein and serum uric acid with preeclampsia in Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Preeclampsia is one of the major conditions causing maternal morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Hyperuricemia due to oxidative stress is known to be associated with deleterious effects on endothelial function, oxidative metabolism, platelet adhesiveness and aggregation. C-reactive protein is an acute phase reactant protein, plays a role in eliciting the inflammatory response characteristic of preeclampsia. The present study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maharajah’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Nellimarla, Vizianagaram (Dist.), Andhra Pradesh, India, which included pregnant women with preeclampsia taken as experimental group consisting of n=22 cases and n=22 matched normal pregnant women in the third trimester enrolled were taken as control group. Clinical history and blood was collected to assess C-reactive protein and uric acid levels. The serum C-reactive protein and uric acid levels were found significantly higher in preeclampsia cases than normal pregnant subjects. Uric acid and C-reactive protein levels were 5.06±1.84 mg/dL and 7.98±7.2 mg/dL respectively in the study group (cases) compared to 3.42±1.58 mg/dL and 6.43±4.18 mg/dL respectively in controls. There was a positive correlation between CRP and mean arterial pressure and also between C-reactive protein and serum uric acid. Serum uric acid and C-reactive protein may be feasible to be used as biomarkers for identifying women at risk of preeclampsia and hence, can be considered as supportive diagnostic tools in preeclampsia.