Skip to main content
Log in

Homocysteine, folic acid and B12 serum levels in pregnancy complicated with preeclampsia

Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

Elevated plasma homocysteine has been implicated in vascular changes compatible with atherosis and endothelial dysfunction similar to the vascular changes of the placenta in preeclampsia. Previous reports have indicated an increased incidence of hyperohomocysteinemia in preeclamptic patients. The aim of this study was to examine the association of homocysteine levels and preeclampsia in our patients.

Study design

Prospective study of 28 preeclamptic patients that were matched with 26 normal controls of the same gestational age.

Results

The preeclamptic group had an increased incidence of cesarean sections (75%), of growth retarded fetuses (50%), intrauterine deaths (7%) and placental abruptions (7%). Mean levels of homocysteine were significantly elevated in the preeclamptic than in control group (11.11 vs. 6.40 μmol/l, P < 0.001). There were no differences between the groups regarding the levels of folic acid (11.12 vs. 9.73 ng/ml, P = 0.55) and vitamin B12 (295.76 vs. 356.15 pg/ml, P = 0.43).

Conclusion

It is concluded that in our study homocysteine levels are significantly elevated in patients with preeclampsia compared with control group, while no vitamin deficiencies were observed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

References

  1. De Vries JLP, Dekker GA, Huijgens PC, Jakobs C, Bloomberg BME, Van Geijn HP (1997) Hyperhomocysteinemia and protein S deficiency in complicated pregnancies. Br J Obstet Gynecol 104:1248–1254

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dekker AG, DeVries JIP, Doelitzsch PM et al (1995) Underlying disorders associated with severe early onset preeclampsia. Am J Obstet Gynecol 173:1042–1048

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ray JG, Laskin CA (1999) Folic acid and homocyst(e)ine metabolic defects and the risk of placental abruption, pre-eclampsia and spontaneous pregnancy loss: a systematic review. Placenta 20:519–529

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Domagala TB, Undas A, Libura M, Szezklick A (1998) Pathogenesis of vascular disease in hyperhomcysteinemia. J Cardiovasc Risk 5:239–247

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hague WM (2003) Homocysteine and pregnancy. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 17:459–469

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Aubard Y, Darodes N, Cantaloube M (2000) Hyperhomocysteinemia and pregnancy: review of our present understanding and therapeutic implications. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 93:157–165

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Van Pampus MG, Dekker CA, Wolf H et al (1999) High prevalence of haemostatic abnormalities in women with a history of severe preeclampsia. Am J Obstet Gynecol 180:1146–1150

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Dekker AG, Morris NH (2001) Medical conditions associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. In: Sibai BM (ed) Hypertensive disorders in women. W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, p 85

  9. Powers RW, Evans RW, Ness RB et al (2001) Homocysteine and cellular fibronectin are increased in preeclampsia, not transient hypertension of pregnancy. Hypertens Pregnancy 20:69–77

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Baksu A, Taskin M, Goker N, Baksu B, Uluocak A (2006) Plasma homocysteine in late pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia and in newborns. Am J Perinatol 23:31–35

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Maruotti G, Del Bianco A, Amato AN, Lomardi L, Fulgeri AM, Pietropaolo F (2005) Preeclampsia and high serum levels of homocysteine. Minerva Ginecol 57:165–170

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Daly S, Cotter A, Molly AE, Scott J (2005) Homocysteine and folic acid: implications for pregnancy. Semin Vasc Med 5:190–200

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Fayder MR, Yussef M, Odah MM (2004) Hyperhomocysteinemia is A risk marker for development of maternal pre-eclampsia. Boll Chim Farm 143:281–287

    Google Scholar 

  14. Fernandez M, Fernandez G, Diez-Ewald M et al (2005) Plasma homocysteine concentration and its relationship with the development of preeclampsia. Effects of prenatal administration of folic acid. Invest Clin 46:187–195

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Ingec M, Borekci B, Kadanali S (2005) Elevated plasma homocysteine concentration in severe preeclampsia and eclampsia. Tohoku J Exp Med 206:225–231

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Vollset SE, Refsum H, Irgens LM et al (2000) Plasma total homocysteine pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes: the Hordaland Homocysteine study. Am J Clin Nutrit 71:962–968

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Mignini L, Latthe P, Villar J, Kilby M, Carroli G, Khan K (2005) Mapping the theories of preeclampsia: the role of homocysteine. Obstet Gynecol 105:411–425

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Hietala R, Turpeinen U, Laatikainen T (2001) Serum homocysteine at 16 weeks and subsequent preeclampsia. Obstet Gynecol 97:527–529

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Cotter AM, Molloy M, Scott JM, Daly S (2003) Elevated plasma homocysteine in early pregnancy: a risk factor for the development of nonsevere preeclampsia. Am J Obstet Gynecol 189:391–396

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Bolander-Gouaille C (2002) The homocysteine metabolism. In: Bolander-Gouaille C (ed) Focus on homocysteine and the vitamins. Springer, Paris, p 20

  21. Leeda M, Riyazi N, de Vries JLI et al (1998) Effects of folic acid and vitamin B6 supplementation on women with hyperhomocysteinemia and a history of preeclampsia or fetal growth restriction. Am J Obstet Gynecol 179:135–139

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Powers RW, Evans RW, Majors AK et al (1998) Plasma homocysteine concentration is increased in preeclampsia and is associated with evidence of endothelial activation. Am J Obstet Gynecol 179:1606–1611

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Lachmeijer AM, Arnigrimsson R, Bastiaans EJ et al (2001) Mutation in the gene for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, homocysteine levels and vitamin status in women with history of preeclampsia. Am J Obstet Gynecol 184:394–402

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ioannis Kalogiannidis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Makedos, G., Papanicolaou, A., Hitoglou, A. et al. Homocysteine, folic acid and B12 serum levels in pregnancy complicated with preeclampsia. Arch Gynecol Obstet 275, 121–124 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-006-0223-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-006-0223-2

Keywords

Navigation