Does human immunodeficiency virus infection protect against preeclampsia-eclampsia?

OBJECTIVE: In view of recent suggestions that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection may protect against preeclampsia, this study was done to evaluate whether untreated HIV-positive pregnant women have a lower rate of preeclampsia-eclampsia than HIV-negative women. METHODS: Subjects for this study were pregnant women from Soweto, South Africa, who gave birth from March to December 2002 at midwife-run clinics or at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and in whom the HIV status was known. A sample size calculation indicated that 2,588 subjects would be required to show statistical significance at P <.05 with a power of 80% for a reduction in the rate of preeclampsia from 8% to 5% with HIV seropositivity, assuming an HIV seroprevalence rate of 30%. Data collection was by record review from randomly selected patient files and birth registers. RESULTS: In the total sample of 2,600 women, 1,797 gave birth at the hospital and 803 at the midwife-run clinics. The HIV seroprevalence rate was 27.1%. Hypertension was found in 17.3% of women, with 5.3% having preeclampsia-eclampsia. The rates of preeclampsia-eclampsia were 5.2% in HIV-negative and 5.7% in HIV-positive women (P =.61). CD4 count results were available for only 13 women (0.5%). CONCLUSION: Human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity was not associated with any reduction in the risk of developing preeclampsia-eclampsia.

Hyperuricaemia and preeclampsia: is there a pathogenic link?

OBJECTIVE: A hypothesis, based on animal studies and human observational studies, was developed proposing a direct pathogenic link between hyperuricemia and preeclampsia. Epidemiological characteristics of preeclampsia such as its uniqueness to humans and an increased incidence of preeclampsia in multiple pregnancies, increased body mass index, renal and hypertensive disease all have uric acid as their common denominator. Animal studies have linked hyperuricaemia to hypertensive, cardiovascular and renal disease. The aim of the study was to determine whether lowering the serum uric acid levels in preeclampsia would affect biochemical parameters and hypertensive control. DESIGN: A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study. SETTING: A tertiary referral center. POPULATION: Forty women with preeclampsia between 26 and 32 weeks gestation. INTERVENTION: Probenecid 250 mg twice daily for seven days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Renal function and haematological parameters, hypertensive control. RESULTS: In the Probenecid group, there was a significant drop in the serum uric acid levels. Lower uric acid levels in the Probenecid group had no significant effect on blood pressure. Patients in the Probenecid group had a significantly lower serum creatinine value at the end of the study when compared to patients in the placebo group. Other renal function parameters (creatinine clearance, urea, 24 h urinary protein excretion) did not show any significant difference between the two groups. Platelet count differed between the two groups with the platelet count being significantly higher in the Probenecid group at the end of the study. CONCLUSION: The significant improvement in the platelet count in the Probenecid group warrants further study.