Comparison of Liver Function Tests of Normaland Pre-Eclamptic Pregnant Females: A Hospital Based Study

Abstract

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a multi-system disorder of unknown etiology involving almost every organ of body including kidney, liver, brain, heart, stomach and adrenals. In liver periportal hemorrhagic necrosis, ischemic lesions and fibrin deposition occurs due to thrombosis of arterioles. Objective: To compare the liver function tests in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia Methodology: This study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, SKIMS, Soura, Kashmir for 18 months. Participants were divided into two groups: Cases: Comprised of 200 patients with toxemia of pregnancy, Controls: comprised of 500 normal, healthy normotensive pregnant women. This group was studied to get the normal values of liver enzymes and served as controls. A complete blood count, microscopic examination of urine, liver function test, kidney function test , 24 hour urinary protein estimation was done on all participants. Results: Among the cases, 49(24.5%) patients while 76 (15.2%) controls had deranged serum bilirubin. Ninety-nine(49.5%) cases had deranged ALT while 16(3.2%) controls had so. Among the cases, 103(51.5%) had deranged AST level while it was deranged in 64(12.8%) controls. ALP and serum total protein followed similar pattern (more deranged in cases than controls). Conclusion: Liver function test impairment occurs in preeclampsia which is characterized by rise in mean level of serum transaminase levels and serum bilirubin level and fall in serum total protein and albumin level.