Increased homocysteine levels exist in women with preeclampsia from early pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: The present prospective study examines the levels of maternal plasma folate, vitamin B₁₂ and homocysteine in normotensive control (NC) women and women with preeclampsia (PE) from early pregnancy till delivery.

Methods: The present study includes 126 NC and 62 PE women. Maternal blood was collected at 3 time points during pregnancy (T1 = 16th–20th weeks, T2 = 26th–30th weeks and T3 = at delivery). Levels of folate, vitamin B₁₂ and homocysteine were estimated by the chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay technology.

Results: Maternal plasma folate levels were similar between NC and PE women at all the time points across gestation. Maternal plasma vitamin B₁₂ levels were significantly higher in PE (p < 0.05) as compared with NC at T2. Maternal plasma homocysteine levels were higher in PE as compared with NC at all the time points, i.e. T1, T2 (p < 0.05 for both) and T3 (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Our results indicate that higher homocysteine levels exist in women with PE from early pregnancy and continue till delivery.

• Folate
• homocysteine
• preeclampsia
• prospective study
• vitamin B₁₂

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India for granting the Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) to Nisha Wadhwani. The authors also acknowledge all the subjects who volunteered in this study and nurses of Bharati Hospital and Gupte Hospital who helped in collecting the samples.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest. The authors also acknowledge the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, India for partially funding this study (No BT/PR-10593/MED/12/396/2008).