Relation between serum uric acid and plasma adenosine levels in twin pregnancies

Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationship between plasma adenosine and serum uric acid levels in women with singleton and twin pregnancies. Methods: We sampled maternal arterial blood and measured serum uric acid and plasma adenosine levels in 22 singleton pregnancies and nine twin pregnancies at 33 to 38 weeks’ gestation. Results: The average plasma adenosine levels were 0.31 ± 0.12 μmol/L in the singleton pregnancy group and 0.45 ± 0.09 μmol/L in the twin pregnancy group ( P < .001). The mean serum uric acid level in women with twin pregnancy was 5.7 ± 0.44 mg/dL which was higher than that in the singleton pregnant women (4.4 ± 0.69 mg/dL, P < .001). Positive correlations were found between serum uric acid and plasma adenosine levels in both the singleton ( r 2 = 0.54, P < .001) and the twin pregnancy groups ( r 2 = 0.65, P = .009). Moreover, there was also a significant correlation between serum uric acid and plasma adenosine levels overall ( r 2 = 0.66, P < .001). Conclusion: Our results suggest that higher adenosine levels are a contributing source of hyperuricemia in twin pregnancies.