dc.contributor.author | Ndiang'ui, F M | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-05-23T13:00:00Z | |
dc.date.available | 2013-05-23T13:00:00Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2006 | |
dc.identifier.citation | M.Med (Human Pathology) Thesis | en |
dc.identifier.uri | http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/11295/24925 | |
dc.description | Master of Medicine Thesis | en |
dc.description.abstract | Pre eclampsia has been described since the early eighteenth century and occurs in 2 - 6-%
of all pregnancies It is characterized by elevated blood pressure, proteinuria and I or
oedema. 1ne primary pathology is in the vascular system and hence affects almost all the
organ systems in the body.
The cause of preeclampsia is still largely unknown. It is thought that vasospasm or
inc.reased vascular reactivity and endothelial cell dysfunction may be the final common
pathway ..
Some of the identified risk factors are multiple gestation, primiparity, diabetes mellitus,
underlying hypertension, activated protein C resistance and thrornbophillia.
Inflammatory makers e.g C reactive protein (CRP), Tumour necrosis factor a (TNF a),
interleukins 6 and 8 have been shown to be elevated in pre eclamptic patients. It has also
been noted that patients with pre eclampsia have increased levels of homocysteine and
lipids, both of which have been associated with cardiovascular disease.
The rational of this study was that despite the fact that pre eclampsia is an important
contributor to fetal maternal morbidity, its aetiology remains unknown but current theory
points to vascular endothelial dysfunction. Homocysteine and plasma lipids are known
risk factors of thrombotic vascular disease and may have a role in pre eclampsia.
Objectives: The objective was to compare serum homocysteine, total cholesterol, HDL
cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels in pre eclamptic patients and non-eclamptic
pregnant women attending Kenyatta National Hospital
Methods: This was a cross sectional comparative study conducted at Kenyatta National
Hospital between August 2005 to January 2006, both months inclusive. One hundred
(100) subjects, comprising of fifty (50) pre eclamptic patients and a similar number of
normotensive mothers for comparison were studied. Demographic and medical data from
the participating subjects was obtained. Blood was drawn for estimation of serum totsl,
LDL and HDL cholesterol plus homocysteine.
Rtsuits. There were 50 preeclamptic patients and a similar number of normotensive
mothers. The mean homocysteine concentration, 12.78 ± 5.0, among the preeclamptic
patients was higher than that in normotensive mothers, 8.13 ± 3.0 (p value < O.OOi). The
mean total and LDL cholesterol in women with preeclampsia 6.50 ± 0.66 and 4.41 ± 0.52
was higher than in the normotensive mothers, 6.01 ± 0.37 and 3.85 ± 0.46 (p value =
0.01). The mean uric acid concentration among the preeclamptic patients and the
controls was 350.6 ± 30.9 umollL and 222.2 ± 16 umolfL respectively ( p- value =
0.001).
Cenclusion: Homocysteine concentration IS significantly increased in patients with
preeclampsia as compared to normotensive pregnant mothers. Hyperlipidemia of
pregnancy is more marked in patients with preeclampsia. Uric acid concentration is
increased in patients with preeclampsia as compared to normotensive pre | |
dc.description.sponsorship | Univrsity of Nairobi | en |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.title | Serum homocysteine and lipid profiles in preeclamptic patients at kenyatta national hosptal - a comparative descriptive cross sectional study | en |
dc.type | Thesis | en |
dc.description.department | Department of Pathology, Clinical Chemistry Unit,
University of Nairobi | |
local.publisher | Department of Medicine, University of Nairobi | en |