Lactate dehydrogenase as marker for foetal outcome in pre-eclampsia

Abstract

Background: Studies have shown LDH is raised in Pre-eclampsia (PE) with levels increasing with increased severity of PE. Aims and Objectives: To study lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as a marker for foetal outcome in mothers with pre-eclampsia (PE). Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at our facility from February 2019 to November 2021 on all admitted patients with PE. Two hundred and two patients were studied during this period. The inclusion criteria were mild and moderate PE. The exclusion criteria were severe PE, haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets syndrome, eclampsia, any comorbid disease, and multiple gestations. Patients were divided into two groups. Group 0 had mothers with LDH <600 IU/L and Group 1 included mothers with LDH ≥ 600 IU/L. Both groups were documented and monitored until delivery to document foetal outcome as live birth or death in utero. Results: The mean maternal characteristics were as follows: age in years (26.45 ± 3.74), body mass index (30.04 ± 1.58), parity (2.39 ± 0.91), and age of gestation in weeks (33.27 ± 1.18). Group 1 had 61 (30.2%) previous history of PE, 84 (41.6%) live births, and 17 (8.4%) deaths in utero. Group 0 had 60 (29.7%) previous history of PE, 95 (47%) live births and 6 (3%) deaths in utero. The mean gestational age of Group 1 was shorter; 32.29 ± 1.17 weeks versus 33.23 ± 1.16 for Group 0. LDH as a marker for death in utero had a P = 0.01 which is significant. Conclusion: LDH can be used as a marker for foetal outcome in women with PE.