EVALUATION OF SERUM URIC ACID AND LIVER FUNCTION TESTS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT PREECLAMPSIA AT UNIVERSITY OF GONDAR COMPREHENSIVE SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Abstract Background:Preeclampsia can be described as a new-onset of hypertension (blood pressure ?140/90 mmHg) together with proteinuria (24-hr urinary protein ? 0.3g) or an indication of end-organ damage after 20 weeks of gestation. It is the most common cause of abnormal serum uric acid level and liver function in most pregnancies. High serum uric acid is a marker of renal impairment and severity of preeclampsia. In the third-trimester liver disease-related to altered liver function tests may be due to severe preeclampsia. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate serum uric acid level and liver function tests among pregnant women with and without preeclampsia at UoG Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, 2020 Methods and materials: Comparative cross-sectional study design was conducted and a total of 102 subjects. 51 patients with preeclampsia and 51 healthy controls were recruited. The parameters measured were SUA and liver function tests. Results and discussion: There was a significant difference in mean SUA, ALT, and AST level between preeclamptic pregnant women and normotensive pregnant women (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in total and direct bilirubin between preeclamptic and normal pregnant. There is also mean SUA, ALT and AST difference across different age and gestational age categories and it was statistically significant. Conclusion: The present study revealed that SUA, ALT and AST were found high in preeclamptic cases compared to apparently healthy pregnant controls and it was statistically significant. The study also shows that a significant difference was observed in mean SUA, ALT, and AST levels across different age and gestational age categories among preeclamptic patients. Keywords: Preeclampsia, serum uric acid, Alanine aminotransferase, Aspartate aminotransferase,bilirubin