Clinical significance of determination of changes of plasma Hcy and serum folic acid and vitamin B12 levels in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension complicated with nephr opathy

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of changes of plasma homocysteine (Hcy), serum folic acid and vitamin B12 levels in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) complicated with nephropathy. Methods: Plasma Hcy levels was measured with immuno chemistry and serum folic acid and vitamin B12 levels were detected with RIA in 32 pregnant women with PIH complicated with nephrophy and 70 pregnant women with PIH but without nephrophy and 35 pregnant women without PIH (as controls). Results; The plasma Hcy levels in patients with PIH were significantly higher than those without (i.e. controls) (P<0.01), while the serum folic acid, vitaminB12 levels decreased markedly (P<0.01). Among the pregnant women with PIH, plasma Hcy levels were significantly higher and serum folic acid, B12 levels were significantly lower in the patients complicated with nepropathy than those in patients without nephropathy (P<0.01). conclusion: Determination of plasma Hcy and serum folic acid and vitaminB12 levels is clinically useful in the management in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension complicated with nephropthy. (authors)