Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Preeclampsia, the de novo occurrence of hypertension and proteinuria after the 20th week of gestation, continues to exert an inordinate toll on mothers and children alike. Vitamin D, on the other hand, has direct influence on molecular pathways proposed to be important in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, yet the vitamin D-preeclampsia relation has not been studied.
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the vitamin D status of preeclamptic women in different gestational period with respect to normal pregnancy.
PATIENT AND METHODS: the present study is a cross-sectional case-control study (2008-2009) At Al-Kadhimiya Teaching Hospital. Includes measurement of serum vitamin D3 in 60 patients with preeclampsia who were classified into two groups according to the gestational age:
o Preeclamptics in the second trimester G1: (n=30).
o Preeclamptics in the third trimester G2: (n=30,).
The results were compared with 60 apparently healthy pregnant women (as controls). They were classified according to the gestational age into two groups:
o Pregnants in the second trimester G3: (n=30).
o Pregnants in the third trimester G4: (n=30).
RESULTS:
Showed a significant decrease in serum vitamin D3 in the preeclamptics as compared with the controls (p < 0.001)this was accompanied by a significant reduction of this parameter with advancing gestational age in both preeclamptic and healthy pregnents.
CONCLUSION:
Preeclamptics (in different gestational age groups) experienced hypovitaminosis D when compared with healthy pregnant women matched with their age and gestational age; this can be explained partly by the reduction of insulin–like growth factor which has a stimulatory effects on vitamin D3 and partly explained on genetic defects affecting fetoplacental unit.
The above results were supported by the significant low level of s. vitamin D3; which call for the need for vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy.