Serum amyloid A, procalcitonin, highly sensitive C reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels and acute inflammatory response in patients with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count (HELLP) and eclampsia.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between serum amyloid A (SAA), procalcitonin (ProC), highly sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha activity in patients with pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count (HELLP), and the pathogenesis and severity of the disease.

METHOD: Ninety patients at ≥ 32 gestational weeks, according to the last date of menstruation and ultra-sonographic measurements, diagnosed with pre-eclampsia (30 patients), eclampsia (30 patients) or HELLP syndrome (30 patients) were included in the study. Thirty healthy pregnant women from the outpatient clinic during the same period were recruited as the control. The age, gravida, parity, gestational age, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, proteinuria, hemoglobin, thrombocyte count, liver function tests (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, SAA, TNF alpha, ProC and hsCRP levels during pregnancy) were determined and recorded.

RESULTS

No statistically significant differences were detected between the four groups in terms of age, gravida, parity, gestational age and hemoglobin parameters (P > 0.05). When compared to the control, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, spot and 24 h urine protein levels, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, SAA, ProC, hsCRP and TNF alpha levels were significantly high and thrombocyte levels were low in the pre-eclamptic, eclamptic and HELLP groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The investigated parameters were useful to gain an understanding of the maternal inflammatory profile of pre-eclampsia and might be beneficial as markers to predict complications such as HELLP and eclampsia and to provide the necessary preventive approach in these patients.