Maternal serum uric acid level and maternal and neonatal complications in preeclamptic women: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is associated with maternal and neonatal complications. It has been indicated that increased uric acid might have a predictive role on preeclampsia. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the relationship between the level of uric acid with maternal and neonatal complications in women with preeclampsia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 160 singleton preeclamptic women at more than 28 wk gestational age were included. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count, liver and uric acid tests, and maternal and neonatal complications were assessed. The severity of preeclampsia, placental abruption, preterm labor, thrombocytopenia, elevated alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT and AST), HELLP syndrome, eclampsia and required hospitalization in the ICU was considered as the maternal complication. Fetal complications were: small for gestational age (SGA), intrauterine fetal death, hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit, and Apgar score <7 at five minutes. RESULTS: Of our participants, 38 women had severe preeclampsia (23.8%). The mean level of uric acid in women with severe preeclampsia was significantly higher than non-severe preeclampsia (p=0.031), also in those with an abnormal liver test (p=0.009). The mean level of uric acid in women with preterm delivery was significantly higher than women with term delivery (p=0.0001). Also, the level of uric acid had no effect on neonatal hospitalization in neonate invasive care unit. Based on logistic regression, the incidence of severe preeclampsia not affected by decreased or increased serum levels of uric acid. CONCLUSION: With higher level of uric acid in server preeclampsia we can expected more complications such as hepatic dysfunction and preterm delivery. Thus serum uric acid measurement can be helpful marker for severe preeclampsia.

The association between level of maternal serum leptin in the third trimester and the occurrence of moderate preterm labor.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the relationship between the level of maternal serum leptin and the occurrence of moderate preterm labor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a case control study conducted on pregnant women referred to Al-Zahra Hospital in Rasht, north of Iran in 2013. Cases included 30 moderate preterm delivering women and 30 control pregnant women with the same gestational age. The maternal serum leptin was measured for each mother at the time of entering the study. RESULTS: The mean serum leptin in the control group (56.66±34.18) was significantly higher than the preterm (33.65±16.70) group. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of body mass index and age. Logistic regression revealed that age and body mass index did not have a significant relationship to moderate preterm birth. However, an increased leptin level as low as 1 microgram per liter was associated with the risk of moderate preterm birth incidence (OR: 0.973, CI: 0.948-0.997). CONCLUSION: Higher levels of leptin in pregnant women are associated with a decreased risk of moderate preterm birth. Further investigations are recommended with a larger sample size.

Comparison of sexual dysfunction in women with infertility and without infertility referred to Al-Zahra Hospital in 2013-2014.

BACKGROUND: One of the affected aspects in infertile women that have not been given sufficient attention is sexual function. Sexual function is a key factor in physical and marital health, and sexual dysfunction could significantly lower the quality of life. Aim of this study was to assess the comparison sexual dysfunction in women with infertility and without infertility, admitted to Al- Zahra Hospital. OBJECTIVE: We decided to assess the prevalence of women sexual disorders in fertile and infertile subjects, admitted to Al-Zahra Hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 149 fertile and 147 infertile women who referred to infertility clinic of Al-Zahra Hospital during 2013-2014 were entered this cross-sectional study and Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire (FSFI) had been filled by all the cases. Most of women were married for 6-10 years (35.5%) and mean marriage time in participants was 9.55±6.07 years. Data were analyzed using SPSS software Ver. 18 and (2) test and logistic regression model has been used for analysis. RESULTS: Results showed significant differences between desire (p=0.004), arousal (p=0.001), satisfaction (p=0.022) and total sexual dysfunction (p=0.011) in both groups but in lubrication (p=0.266), orgasm (p=0.61) and pain (p=0.793) difference were not significant. CONCLUSION: Some of sexual dysfunction indices are high in all infertile women. Our findings suggest that infertility impacts on women's sexual function in desire, arousal, satisfaction and total sexual dysfunction. Health care professional should be sensitive to impact that diagnosis of infertility can have on women's sexuality.

Predictive value of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels in vaginal fluid for the diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes.

BACKGROUND: Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) occurs in 3% of pregnancies and 30-40% of preterm labors are related to this problem. Early diagnosis of PPROM is very important due to its impact on pregnancy outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic value of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in vaginal fluid for the diagnosis of preterm premature rupture of membranes as a non-invasive and available test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 148 pregnant women between the 26(th)-36(th) gestational weeks were enrolled in the study. 74 patients were in PROM group and 74 in control group. AST and ALT levels in vaginal fluid were measured in each group. Mann Whitney U-test was used to compare AST and ALT levels in each group. RESULTS: The mean of AST level in vaginal fluid was 12.77±10.06 in PROM group vs. 6.91±10.92 in control group (p<0.001), while there were no significant difference between ALT levels in PROM group 1.51±3.17 and control group 0.89±1.15 (p=0.49). Optimal cut point of AST for the diagnosis of PROM was 4.5 IU/L in this study. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 82.4%, 63.5%, 69.32% and 78.33% respectively. CONCLUSION: According to the findings of this study, measurement of AST level in vaginal fluid can be used as a reliable test for diagnosis of PROM, but there is no good cut point for ALT level that can be practically used.

Evaluation of serum creatine phosphokinase in diagnosis of tubal ectopic pregnancy compared with intrauterine pregnancy and threatened abortion.

BACKGROUND: Vaginal sonograghy and serial -hCG are the most common diagnostic methods for ectopic pregnancy but about 50% of cases are initially misdiagnosed. In tubal pregnancy the zygote lies next to the muscular layer, and this invasion causes an increase in creatine phosphokinase (CPK) in blood. OBJECTIVE: assessment of CPK and its isoenzyme CPK-MB as a diagnostic marker for tubal pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this case-control study, 111 women between 16-40 years in first-trimester pregnancy admitted to emergency ward of Rasht Alzahra hospital with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding were included and according to sonography and ßhCG divided into 3 groups (N=37): tubal pregnancy (1), threatened abortion (2) and normal pregnancy (3). Blood samples were taken for totalCPK and CPK-MB before any invasive procedure. RESULTS: Mean total CPK level were 96.27±63.9 u/lit (group 1), 55.37±14.1 u/lit (group 2) and 48.94±19.2 u/lit (group 3) and was significantly higher in tubal pregnancy compared to other groups. Mean CPK-MB levels in 3 groups were 15.62±5.2 u/lit, 17.32±6.9 u/lit, and 15.1±4.7 u/lit, respectively which was not significant. CONCLUSION: It seems that determination of total CPK can enhance the diagnostic value of tubal pregnancy.