[Folic acid levels, homocysteine and polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase enzyme (MTHFR) in patients with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia]. / Niveles de ácido fólico, homocisteína y polimorfismo de la enzima metilentetrahidrofolatorreductasa (MTHFR) en pacientes con preeclampsia severa y eclampsia.

UNLABELLED: Preeclampsia and eclampsia are the primary causes of maternal mortality. In the state of Nuevo León, from 1990 to 1998, these conditions represented 44.1% of maternal deaths. The presence of thrombogenic substances (homocysteine, C protein, and anticardiolipin antibodies) in the mother's blood has been related to this problem. The C677T polymorphism of the enzyme methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) favors the increase of homocysteine levels, while folic acid (FA) supplementation decreases its levels. OBJECTIVE: To establish the role of FA in the physiopathology of preeclampsia in our environment. KIND OF STUDY: Longitudinal, prospective and comparative. CASES: Women with severe preeclampsia and/or eclampsia (n-13). CONTROLS: Women in the third trimester of a normal pregnancy (n + 15). 20 mL Blood samples were taken during the first 24 hours of puerperium, and their AF, homocysteine and MTHFR polymorphism were measured. The t Student test and the Exact Fisher test were used to compare between both groups. RESULTS: The values obtained for homocysteine were (x + SD): CASES: 9.85 micromoles/L + 2.88, and controls: 7.61 micromoles/L + 1.32 (p < 0.04). The frequency (%) of the genetic polymorphism for MTHFR was: positive homozygotes (T/T): 38.46 vs. 20, heterozygotes (C/T): 38.46 vs. 26.6, negative homozygotes (C/C): 23 vs 53, for cases and controls, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: According to our study, the frequency of the homozygote state (T/T) of MTHFR and increased blood levels of homocysteine is greater in women suffering from preeclampsia.

[Systemic lupus erythematosus and pregnancy. Presentation of 2 cases and review of the literature]. / Lupus eritematoso sistémico y embarazo. (LES). Presentación de dos casos y revisión de la literatura.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, which is seen more frequently in women than in men, especially in the reproductive age range, and which when associated with pregnancy may be lethal if the diagnosis is not made opportunely or treatment is inadequate. This report presents two cases of systemic lupus erythematosus during pregnancy one of which was diagnosed during the first trimester and which, with good prenatal care, respond well to treatment with prednisone and remained inactive during the pregnancy resulting in a favorable outcome. The second case was diagnosed in the second trimester with select manifestations of the disease activity which evolved poorly resulting in a fatal outcome for mother and fetus.