Uric Acid Concentrations of Serum , Amniotic Fluid , and Fetal Serum in Pregnant Woman with Preeclampsia

Kim, Y H; Song, T B; Choi, J; Kim, G H; Lee, G Y; Park, C S; Kim, S M; Pyun, J S

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to investigate uric acid concentrations of maternal serum, amniotic fluid, and fetal serum in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia.
METHODS
112 samples of amniotic fluid obtained from normal pregnancies 17 to 38 weeks gestation, and 28 samples of maternal serum and umbilical arterial cord serum obtained from normal pregnancies in third trimester. Samples of maternal serum, amniotic fluid, and umbilical arterial cord serum were collected from 47 women with preeclampsia in third trimester. Uric acid concentration was measured by enzymatic spectrophotometric method using the enzyme uricase.
RESULTS
Amniotic fluid uric acid concentrations increased progressively from 17 to 38 weeks gestation in normal pregnancy [17; 3.38+/-0.3, 24; 4.23+/-0.33, 28; 5.23+/-0.97, 34; 5.87+/-1.58, 38 weeks; 6.97+/-0.76 mg/dl, n=112, r=0.75, p<0.01]. In third trimester, amniotic fluid uric acid concentration was significantly increased in women with preeclampsia than with normal pregnancy [9.62+/-2.65 vs. 6.36+/-1.95 mg/dl, p<0.01]. Maternal serum [MS] and umbilical arterial cord serum [CS] uric acid concentration were significantly increased in women with preeclampsia than with normal pregnancy [MS; 6.33+/-1.55 vs. 4.37+/- 0.64, p<0.01, CS; 6.44+/-1.49 vs. 4.30+/-0.92 mg/dl, p<0.01].
CONCLUSIONS
Serum uric acid concentrations were significantly increased in pregnant women and fetuses with preeclampsia. Increased production of uric acid in fetus and placenta may contribute to maternal hyperuricemia and high amniotic fluid uric acid concentration in preeclampsia partly.