C-reactive protein as a predictive factor of preeclampsia

Preeclampsia and eclampsia, the Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, contribute significantly to still births, maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. C - reactive protein (CRP), a marker of tissue damage and inflammation, is elevated in serum in overt preeclampsia. There is still debate on its use as a predictive marker for preeclampsia during early pregnancy. The present study is an attempt to evaluate C - reactive protein (CRP) as a predictive factor of preeclampsia. Of the 70cases studied, 30 were normal healthy pregnant women below 30 years of age and were in first trimester with no proteinuria. The remaining 40 pregnant women below 30 years of age with gestational age between 10-14 weeks and having BP of ≥130/86mm of Hg and proteinuria~200mg/l. In high risk preeclamptic women the level of plasma hsCRP was elevated significantly compared to values in normal pregnant controls. Plasma hsCRP assessment may serve as a predictive factor for preeclampsia.