Maternal Serum Uric Acid as a Predictor of Severity of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: A Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between maternal serum uric acid and severity of Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in a rural tertiary care centre. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Present study was conducted in Obstetrics and Gynaecology department of rural tertiary care centre of Northern India over seven months (October 2016-May 2017) on 110 women admitted with a Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (Gestational hypertension, Preeclampsia, Eclampsia) at ≥34 weeks gestation. Maternal serum uric acid levels were compared in three groups in relation to disease severity, mode of delivery, maternal outcome. RESULTS: Of total 110 women with a Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy; 35 (31.81%) had Gestational Hypertension, 49 (44.54%) preeclampsia and 26 (23.63%) had eclampsia. Mean±SD values for serum uric acid were 5.47±1.93 mg/dl in women with Gestational Hypertension; 6.72±2.15 mg/dl in Pre-eclampsia and 8.71±2.97 mg/dl in the eclamptic group. Of 110 women 34(97.14%) with gestational hypertension, 27(55.10%) with pre-eclampsia and one (3.85%) with eclampsia remained stable in post-partum period, 17 (34.69%) women with severe pre-eclampsia and 15 (57.69%) with eclampsia required intensive care in postpartum period and one (2.86%) women with gestational hypertension, five (10.20%) with pre-eclmapsia and ten (38.46%) with eclampsia required ventilator support and high dependency unit care. Of these 16 women with the severe disease, ten succumbed to death. Also, in women with serum uric acid,>6mg/dl, most common mode of delivery was a lower segment cesarean section (50.90%). CONCLUSION: Significant correlation was observed between maternal serum uric acid, disease severity and maternal outcome.