Abstract: Objective: To compare clinical and biochemical parameters in cases of early and late onset pre-ecclampsia and compare maternal and perinatal outcomes in both the study groups.
Study design: This was a prospective observational study. All antenatal patients presenting in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecolocy, PGIMS, Rohtak with features of preeclampsia requiring admission were included and divided into 2 groups on the basis of period of gestation. All women were subjected to routine antenatal investigations and specific investigations pertaining to preeclampsia. The subjects were followed during their hospital stay and the maternal outcome and fetal outcome and biochemical were observed and compared in both the study groups.
Results: A total of 120 patients were enrolled in the study and divided into 2 equal groups of 60 each. The early onset group had more severe preeclampsia at the time of admission in comparison to late onset group (p<0.001).The hematological parameters did not show any stastistical difference when compared between the groups.The EOPE had a significantly larger proportion of patients with significant albuminuria as compared with LOPE (p<0.01).)The mean gestational age at termination of pregnancy was 33.03(±3.08) weeks in early onset group and 38.17(±2.08) in the late onset group. The mean APGAR score at 5 minutes was significantly lower in early onset group(5.93±3.54) when compared to late onset group(8.40±1.68) (p<0.001).There was a significant difference between the groups in terms of NICU admissions with the early onset pre-eclampsia having a significantly higher proportion NICU admissions(51.67%) as compared to the late onset group(16.67%).
Conclusion: The present study reveals that the women having early onset preeclampsia were more likely to develop a more severe form of the disease. The biochemical parameters were significantly deranged in women who developed preeclampsia before 34 weeks of gestation. It can be concluded that careful vigilance is required in all women presenting with preeclampsia especially with early onset preeclampsia, where utmost clinical expertise and decision making is required keeping in mind the increased severity of the disease as well as prematurity of the baby.