A correlation of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme levels in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy with severity of disease, maternal and perinatal outcome

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of the study is to measure the lactate dehydrogenase enzyme (LDH) levels in pregnant women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and correlate the levels with the severity of disease, maternal and the perinatal outcome. Methods: In this prospective observational study, a total of 200 pregnant women were studied. Out of these 200 women, 100 were control and 100 were cases. 100 women had normal blood pressure, 33 women had non-severe preeclampsia, 30 women had severe preeclampsia and 37 women had eclampsia. The serum LDH levels were measured in third trimester and patients followed up until early postpartum period and babies were followed up till early neonatal period to assess the maternal and neonatal outcomes. Results: Higher lactate dehydrogenase enzyme (LDH) levels were observed in pregnant women with severe form of hypertensive disorder and those with high levels of LDH, a poor maternal and perinatal outcome was observed. This is statistically significant (p<0.001) showing the role of Serum lactate dehydrogenase as a predictor of adverse feto-maternal outcomes in cases of preeclampsia and eclampsia. Conclusions: Lactate dehydrogenase enzyme (LDH) level is a useful biochemical marker to assess and predict the severity of disease, maternal and perinatal outcome, as higher levels of the enzyme are associated with worsening severity of disease, a poor maternal and perinatal outcome.

Keywords

• eclampsia
• ldh
• outcome
• severe preeclampsia