Activity of hepatic enzymes from week sixteen of pregnancy
Received 17 December 2004; accepted 19 April 2005.
Objective
This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence, epidemiology, and mother-child repercussions of increased alanine-aminotransferase levels from week 16 of pregnancy.
Study design
A longitudinal observational study of 381 pregnant women. The cause of increased alanine-aminotransferase levels during pregnancy and repercussions on the neonate were studied in 283 cases. Statistical analysis was performed with Mann-Whitney test, χ2 test, or the Fisher exact test.
Results
The mean age of the mothers was 29.9 ± 4.8 years. Twenty-five percent presented increased gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase, alkaline phophatase, and dehydrogenase lactate from week 32. Increased alanine-aminotransferase was observed in 7.4% (95% CI, 5.00%-10.57%) of cases. Clinical disorders were light, transitory, and with no apparent cause, except for 1 hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets (HELLP) syndrome, 3 preeclampsias, and 1 gravidic cholestasis. No statistically significant differences were observed in the group of mother-child with alanine-aminotransferase normal or increased.
Conclusion
Most increases in alanine-aminotransferase from week 16 of pregnancy are transitory, non-specific, and have no repercussions on mother or child.
cDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, H. Universitario San Cecilio, Granada, Spain
Reprint requests: Angeles Ruiz-Extremera, MD, Department of Pediatrics, “San Cecilio” University Hospital, Avda Dr Oloriz no 16, 18012- Granada, Spain.
Support provided by the Government of Spain FIS 97/0378 and Instituto de Salud “Carlos III” RNIHG C03/02.
ABSTRACT