Abstract:
Background: Preeclampsia (PET) is one of the most common
medical conditions complicating pregnancy and an important
cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Predicting the severity of this disease is crucial for good
management outcome. Serum lactate dehydrogenase is a
marker of tissue damage and preeclampsia is associated with
significant tissue damage.
Methods: This was a comparative cross-sectional study
involving 55 preeclamptic women aged 18-40 years with
gestational age >20 weeks and 55 normotensive pregnant
women matched for age, gestational age and parity recruited
from the Antenatal clinic of Jos University Teaching Hospital.
Socio-demographic, biophysical and obstetric data were
obtained. Serum lactate dehydrogenase levels were assayed and
both groups were followed up till delivery and their pregnancy
outcome noted. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 22.0, P<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The mean serum LDH level of the study group
(355±364IU/L) was significantly higher than the control group
(136±50IU/L), P <0.001. The mean serum LDH level among
preeclamptics with complications was significantly higher
(880±12.6IU/L) compared to preeclamptics without
complication (266.2±151.2IU/L), P <0.001.
Conclusion: Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase is a good marker
of preeclampsia and higher levels of Lactate Dehydrogenase
among preeclamptic patients could be a predictor of possible
complications
