RESUMEN
To monitor the pattern of changes in serum uric acid in the second and third trimesters during pregnancy and to evaluate the importance of serum uric acid in the management of preeclampsia. Design: Descriptive case series study of women with normal pregnancy and women with preeclampsia. Setting: Al-Batool Teaching Maternity Hospital in Mosul during a period of one year from October 1996 to October 1997. Participants: Eighty-seven women with normal pregnancy and 111 pregnant women with preeclampsia. Main outcome measures: The mean +/- SD values of serum uric acid were [3.33 +/- 1.29] and [5.09 +/- 2.29] mg/dl of normal and preeclamptic pregnant women respectively: A highly statistical significant difference in mean value of serum uric acid is shown between preeclamptic pregnant and normal pregnant women [p < 0.001. Serum uric acid in the second trimester was lower than the third trimester both in normal pregnant women and preeciamptic women but the difference is not statistically significant Serum uric acid is significantly higher in preeclamptic pregnant women. Monitoring uric acid level during the management of preeclamptic patients is advised