Serum uric acid levels associated with biochemical parameters linked to preeclampsia severity and to adverse perinatal outcomes

Abstract

Aims: Evaluating the association between serum uric acid levels and biochemical parameters linked to preeclampsia (PE) severity and to adverse perinatal outcomes.

Methods: Cross-sectional study. Information about gestational and biochemical parameters were collected before delivery, whereas perinatal outcomes were observed after it. Pregnant women were divided into hyperuricemia-HU (uric acid ≥ 6 mg/dL) or normouricemia (uric acid, 2.6-5.9 mg/dL) groups. Poisson regression models (prevalence ratio-PR; 95% confidence interval-95% CI), multinomial logistic regression (odds ratio-OR; 95% CI), and Pearson's correlation (correlation coefficient-r) were applied by taking into consideration p < 0.05 as significance level.

Results: The total sample comprised 267 pregnant women with PE. HU was observed in 25.8% of patients; it was associated with black pregnant women (p = 0.014) and with primiparity (p = 0.007). Uric acid levels were higher in early PE cases than in late PE cases (p = 0.013); however, there was no significant difference between mild and severe PE cases (p = 0.121). Uric acid recorded a positive correlation to urea (p < 0.001), creatinine (p = 0.002), glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (p < 0.001), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (p = 0.005), ferritin (p = 0.002) and globulin (p = 0.002); as well as negative correlation to platelets (p = 0.035), lactic dehydrogenase (p = 0.039) and albumin (p > 0.001). HU was a factor associated with cesarean delivery (p = 0.030), prematurity (p = 0.001), low birth weight (p < 0.001) and small for gestational age (p = 0.020).

Conclusion: High serum uric acid levels were associated with early-onset PE. Maternal features were correlated to biochemical parameters linked to PE severity and to adverse perinatal outcomes.

Keywords: Hypertension; Hyperuricemia; Premature; Small for gestational age.