Role of Lactate Dehydrogenase in the Prediction of Severity in Pre-Eclampsia

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a hypertensive pregnancy disorder accompanied by proteinuria. Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) is a biochemical marker that reflects the severity and progression of pre-eclampsia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS). One hundred pre-eclamptic women were enrolled and categorized into mild (n=30) and severe pre-eclamptic groups (n=70) to ascertain the function of LDH as a prognostic marker and to assess its association with severity and gestational age in pre-eclamptic women. Results: The significant differences in mean concentrations of LDH between mild and severe pre-eclamptic women (p-value <0.0001) and early and late-onset pre-eclamptic women (p-value=0.049) were found. Significant differences were also found in the LDH range between mild and severe pre-eclamptic women presented with late-onset pre-eclampsia (p-value=0.004). Statistically significant differences (p-value=0.019) in the levels of LDH were found with systolic blood pressure and proteinuria (p-value=0.048). Conclusion: LDH is the prognostic marker representing the severity of pre-eclampsia. An increased level of LDH directs adequate monitoring and management; and by early detection of pre-eclampsia, serious consequences and complications may be prevented.