Liver and kidney function tests in normal and pre-eclamptic gestation--a comparison with non-gestational reference...

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Clinical Biochemistry
• Renal Medicine

Background:

• Normal pregnancy physiologically alters liver and kidney function.
• Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy complication affecting multiple organ systems.
• Establishing accurate reference ranges for pregnant women is crucial for diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare liver and kidney function test results in pre-eclamptic versus uncomplicated pregnancies.
• To evaluate the suitability of current physiological reference values for managing pre-eclampsia.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted.
• 38 pre-eclamptic and 72 normal pregnant women were recruited.
• Liver function tests (LFTs) and renal function tests (RFTs) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Significantly elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transaminase (GGT) were observed in pre-eclampsia.
• Renal function indices including creatinine, urea, and uric acid were significantly higher in pre-eclamptic women.
• No significant differences were found in albumin, bilirubin, or alanine transaminase (ALT) between groups.

Conclusions:

• Liver and kidney function are significantly modified in pre-eclampsia compared to normal pregnancy.
• Existing physiological reference values may not be appropriate for the clinical management of pre-eclampsia.
• Further research is needed to establish specific reference ranges for pre-eclamptic pregnancies.