A comparative study of the serum calcium level in normal pregnant and pre-eclamptic women attending Gauhati Medical College and Hospital.

摘要

Introduction: Pre-eclampsia is one of the major causes of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. Though several factors have been implicated, the exact aetiology is still unknown. Recent studies have implicated that low serum calcium level may have a role in pre-eclampsia. Aim and Objective: The objective of this study was to find out the relation between serum calcium level and pre-eclampsia by comparing the serum calcium levels in pre-eclampsia with that of normal pregnancy. Materials and Methods: Blood samples from 30 pre-eclamptic and 30 pregnant women attending Gauhati Medical College & Hospital, Guwahati, Assam were analyzed for calcium level by enzymatic colorimetric method. Results: Women with pre-eclampsia had a significantly lower serum calcium level than normal pregnant women (p<0.0001). Conclusion: This study concludes that low serum calcium level may be one of the risk factors for the development of pre-eclampsia. So, early detection and appropriate supplementation to correct this deficiency during pregnancy may reduce the incidence of pre-eclampsia.