Alterations in serum uric acid values in a sample of Nigerian pregnant women

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Serum uric acid level is an important prognostic variable in pregnancy as subjects with preeclampsia have elevated serum uric acid levels. Methods: The concentrations of serum uric acid were investigated in 100 women of which 75 were pregnant women and categorized into 3 groups of 25 each, based on their trimesters of pregnancy and 25 non-pregnant women, which served as control. Results: In the first trimester, the mean values of uric acid were 122 µmol/L with a decrease in the levels of uric acid when compared with the control levels of 308 µmol/L (p<0.05). In the second trimester, the values of uric acid were 199umol/l with a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the levels of uric acid when compared with the controls. In the third trimester of pregnancy, the values of uric acid were 360 µmol/L. There was a significant (p<0.05) increase in the level of uric acid when compared with the controls. Conclusion: The progressive increase in the levels of uric acid through the trimesters of pregnancy suggests an impairment in uric acid excretion, may be with concomitant increase in renal tubular re-absorp-tion of uric acid, thereby leading to hyperuricaemia.