Variations in Calcium Levels and Other Biochemical Parameters in Severe Gestational Hypertensive Disease

Abstract

Introduction: High blood pressure during pregnancy is an important cause of maternal death and fetal morbidity throughout the world. There is predisposition to the development of life-threatening complications.
Objective: To assess the variation in calcium dosage and other biochemical parameters in pregnant women with severe gestational hypertensive disease.
Methods: A prospective, longitudinal and analytical study was conducted in patients admitted to the obstetrics service at Abel Santamaría Hospital in Pinar del Río, Cuba from January 2015 to December 2016. The study universe consisted of all pregnant women admitted at the institution during this period. Three hundred thirty (330) healthy and hypertensive pregnant women formed the sample. The statistical analysis used different measures, both parametric and non-parametric.
Results: the study found that the largest number of pregnant women ranged 20 and 29 years old, 13.6% were younger than 20 years and 50% were nulliparous. The history of preeclampsia was present in 23.6% of the study group. Out of the total, 64.5% of severe hypertensive women had lower than normal calcium dosages. While albumin, creatinine, creatinine clearance and total proteins had levels higher than normal values in pregnant hypertensive patients. The maternal weight was higher in the hypertensive group, while the weight of the newborns was lower.
Conclusion: There is an important relationship between low calcium levels and the other biochemical parameters studied and severe hypertension in pregnancy.