International Journal of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Materials and Methods: Two hundred thirty pregnant women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy were enrolled in the study, with a 1:1 distribution of cases and controls. The investigation specifically focused on singleton pregnancies after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Participants were divided into case and control groups, the case group was further classified as preeclampsia without severe features, preeclampsia with severe features and eclampsia groups. Parameters such as blood pressure, and heart rate were recorded and blood and urine samples were collected for laboratory analysis.

Results: Most cases in preeclampsia with severe features group (30.18%) and eclampsia (15.72%) group occurred in the 21-30 age group. Preeclampsia with severe features (74.2%) and eclampsia (57.3%) cases were most prevalent between 34 and 37 weeks. Elevated proteinuria after diastolic blood pressure between 101 and 120 mmHg was observed in over half of preeclampsia with the severe feature group and eclampsia group. All eclampsia cases exhibited elevated blood LDH levels; only 19.1% of preeclampsia with severe features group had LDH below 600 IU. Adverse outcomes, including placental abruption, HELLP syndrome, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), and emergency lower segment caesarean section (LSCS), were noted across all the case groups. As serum LDH levels increased, the incidence of HELLP syndrome, IUGR, mortality, and placental abruption rose significantly.

Conclusion: Serum LDH emerges as a promising biochemical marker for predicting hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and assessing the severity of both maternal and foetal outcomes.