Homocysteine as a Predictor of Preeclampsia

Abstract

Homocysteine is an amino acid that is a product of methionine metabolism, is related to preeclampsia in 20-30%, the increase of this or hyperhomocysteinemia may result from the genetic defect of the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase involved in the synthesis of homocysteine. Maternal mortality due to preeclampsia is up to 44% and perinatal mortality is reported at up to 27.8%. The objective of this research was to determine homocysteine levels as a predictor of preeclampsia in pregnant women 12 to 20 weeks pregnant. This was an observational, longitudinal and prospective investigation. The study population were patients attending the first antenatal care consultation between 12 to 20ava. weeks, the sample was random that included 360 patients who determined serum homocysteine Sand excluded 48 patients whodid not meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria; they found homogeneity among the patients, 270 patients (86.5%) had a normal evolutionary pregnancy, 27 patients (8.65%) had gestational hypertension, 9 (2.88%) mild preeclampsia and 6 patients (1.9%) severe preeclampsia, none developed HELLP syndrome. Increased homocysteine levels were found in 9 patients who were not related to hypertensive pregnancy disorders. In the present research, homocysteine was not shown to be a predictor of hypertensive disease in pregnancy.