Evaluation of Liver Function Test in Normal Pregnancy and Preeclampsia: A Case Control

Abstract

Background and Objective: Preeclampsia is a multi system disorders that can affect every maternal organ predominantly the cardio-vascular system, kidneys, brain and liver. The present study was conducted to compare the liver function tests in preeclampsia with normotensive pregnancy. Methodology: The present case control study was carried out at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology of Bankura Sammilani Medical College, Bankura to find the serum bilirubin and serum levels of liver enzymes ALT, AST and ALP in 100 pregnant women (50 preeclampsia and 50 normotensive pregnant women). Results: The mean BMI of cases was 28.02 ± 3.67kg/m 2 and that of control was 24.48±3.09 kg/m 2. The mean value of serum bilirubin in cases was 10.

Examination of hepato-renal functions and lipid panel among pregnant women with preeclampsia in Sétif, Algeria

“…25 Previous studies had found significantly raised levels of AST, ALT, ALP, and GGT in PE women. 7,24,25 However, Makuyana et al, 23 in Zimbabwe, did not find a significant difference between ALT levels in PE women. Furthermore, Hussein 26 has indicated non-significant difference in AST between Irakian preeclamptic patients and normotensive pregnant women.…”

“…This possibly translate into a full clinical presentation of PE during late pregnancy, and are due to hypoxic effect of this disorder on their livers, since hypoxia results in necrosis with a degeneration of hepatocytes. 7 The primary fluctuations in liver's function evaluation may be due to red cell demolition, alteration of membrane permeability and damage of hepatocytes. 24 The GGT levels can be three times higher than the upper reference value in more than 50% of patients with a disease of nonalcoholic liver, but there is scientific evidence that, it is associated with increased risk of major vascular and non-vascular outcomes, hypertension and diabetes.…”

“…In PE accompanied by Hemolysis Elevated Liver Enzymes Low Platelet count (HELLP) syndrome, there is an elevation in transaminases liver enzyme levels and hyperbilirubinemia, especially in the presence of hemolysis. 7 Routine investigation of women with preeclampsia includes determination of liver function test including, Aspartate Amino-Transferase (AST), Alanine Amino-Transferase (ALT), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), bilirubin, and albumin levels, but there are controversies for association between these parameters and severity of PE in literature. 8 Additionally, although intrinsic renal injury specific to pregnancy is seen in 40% of severe PE cases, eclampsia and the HELLP syndrome, 9 very few studies have given an optimum cut-off for renal markers in predicting hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, especially in developing settings.…”

Liver Function Tests in Normal Pregnant Women

“…AST and ALT are collectiv ely known as aminotransferases or transaminases. Tests for synthetic function i.e., how well the liver can synthesis new compounds particularly proteins, include serum albumin and International Normalized Ratio [12,13].…”

“…AST: ALT greater than 2 in a patient with probable liver disease is strongly suggestive of alcohol as an etiology. AST: ALT greater than is suggestive of an extrahepatic source of AST (e.g., rhabdomyolysis, acute myocardial infraction) [7,12].…”