A Retrospective Study to Compare Serum Uric Acid Levels in Women with Preeclampsia and Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension and Normotensive Pregnant Women

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Lindita Ibrahimi, Brikene Dacaj Elshani, Albana Gashi, Elira Nuraj

 
For citation: Ibrahimi L, Elshani BD, Gashi A, Nuraj E. A Retrospective Study to Compare Serum Uric Acid Levels in Women with Preeclampsia and Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension and Normotensive Pregnant Women. International Journal of Biomedicine. 2025;15(1):129-134. doi:10.21103/Article15(1)_OA12
 
Originally published March 5, 2025

Abstract: 

Background: This study aimed to compare serum uric acid (sUA) levels in 59 women with preeclampsia (PE), 61 women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), and 80 normotensive women at 24–34 weeks of gestation.
Methods and Results: This case-control study included 200 pregnant women at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, University Clinical Center of Kosovo. Groups comprised 59 PE patients, 61 PIH patients, and 80 normotensive controls. SUA levels were measured and analyzed for statistical significance. Preeclampsia was diagnosed based on criteria of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy, which include hypertension onset after 20 weeks of gestation and significant proteinuria. Pregnancy-induced hypertension was identified as hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation without proteinuria. Serum uric acid levels were quantified using enzymatic methods with validated laboratory equipment.
Significant differences in serum uric acid levels were found among groups  (P=0.0000). PE patients had the highest sUA levels (326.1±64.3 µmol/L) compared to PIH (263.3±60.3 µmol/L; P=0.0000) and normotensive women (232.6±44.3 µmol/L; P=0.0000). Sensitivity and specificity for PE detection were 96.6% and 48.8%, respectively, with ROC analysis confirming predictive value (AUC:0.857)
Conclusion: Elevated sUA levels are strongly associated with preeclampsia and demonstrate high sensitivity for detecting it. This finding highlights the potential of sUA as a valuable biomarker for early identification and management of preeclampsia, enabling timely interventions to improve maternal and fetal outcomes.

Keywords: 
preeclampsia • hypertension • pregnancy • uric acid
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Received January 20, 2025.
Accepted March 3, 2025.
©2025 International Medical Research and Development Corporation.