Liver function status in pre-eclamptic women in Edo Specialist Hospital, Benin City

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy specific disease with multisystem involvement. In the liver, it leads to excessive leakage of the liver enzymes into the blood due to cellular dysfunction. This study involved the assessment of the liver function status of patients with pre-eclampsia in Benin City.

Methods: A total of 196 respondents consisting of 124 pre-eclamptics (PE), 36 normotensive pregnant women (NPW) and 36 analbuminuric hypertensive pregnant women (AHPW) with most of them being within the age bracket of 31–35 years. Their blood pressures were measured and urinalysis was done to determine those with proteinuria. Blood samples were collected for liver function test. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: Amongst the PEs, 39 (31.5%) had mild while 85 (68.5%) had severe pre-eclampsia (PE) based on a BP of > 160/110mmHg. There was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the activities of plasma AST, ALP, GGT and LDH as well as bilirubin in PE than in NPW and AHPW. The plasma liver enzymes AST, ALP, GGT and LDH activities as well as total bilirubin were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in severe PE than in mild PE. This study showed a significant positive correlation between LDH and GGT (r = 0.20, p= 0.02) and ALP (r = 0.18, p = 0.03).

Conclusion: Serial measurements of liver enzymes and plasma bilirubin in pre-eclamptics would be useful in detecting and preventing multi-organ damage in these patients.