Role of serum calcium, magnesium and zinc in pregnancy induced hypertension

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: Pregnancy induced hypertension or preeclampsia is triad of hypertension, proteinuria and edema occurring after 20 weeks of gestation in previously normotensive women. It is the most common medical complication of pregnancy with incidence of 5% to 10% with increased in maternal and infant mortality and morbidity. The exact etiology is not known although various elements might play a role in preeclampsia. The aim of the study is to analyze and compare the concentration of serum calcium, magnesium and zinc level in women with preeclampsia and in normal pregnant women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross sectional case-control study involving 25 women with pre-eclampsia in case group and 25 normal pregnant women in control group. The inclusion criteria for case group were age group in between 20-40 yrs including both primi and second gravida in third trimester of pregnancy (>24 weeks of pregnancy). The blood pressure measured by sphygmomanometer in upper arm in sitting posture was ≥140/90mmHg in two different occasions taken 6 hours apart. The urine albumin was ≥1+ or in the mid stream random sample of urine. The controls group was formed by 25 age matched normal pregnant women either primi or second gravida in third trimester of pregnancy. The patients with medical complications such as Diabetes Mellitus, renal failure, chronic hypertension, heart failure or ischaemic heart disease, multiple pregnancies, pregnancy < 24 weeks of gestation, patients on magnesium sulphate and calcium lactate therapy were excluded from the study. The Body Mass Index (BMI), serum calcium, magnesium and zinc levels were compared between the case and control groups. RESULTS: The BMI was significantly higher in preeclamptic women when compared to normal pregnant women 28.71±4.70 versus 22.46±3.42 P<0.001. The serum calcium, magnesium and zinc levels in preeclamptic women were significantly lower when compared to normal pregnant women 8.07±0.43 versus 8.96±0.59 P<0.001, 1.62±0.16 versus 1.92±0.16 p