Can serum free fatty acids assessment predict severe preeclampsia?

Objective: To estimate the relation between serum free fatty acids (FFAs) and severe preeclampsia in Egypt. Methods: Twenty cases with severe preeclampsia (blood pressure P 160/110 after 20th week of gestation and proteinuria P2.5 gm/24 h urine) were matched with 20 normotensive pregnant controls for age, and BMI. All study participants were registered to Elshatby Maternity University Hospital within a period of 10 months. Evaluation of serum fasting FFAs, uric acid, liver transaminases (AST, ALT) during delivery were done. Results: The mean level of FFAs was significantly elevated in preeclampsia cases compared to women with normal blood pressure (2.12 ± 2.64, 0.43± 0.29 respectively, p= 0.003). Also, cases with high FFAs levels had significant increased levels of serum uric acid than control women with normal blood pressure (6.38 ±1.25, 5.05 ± 1.85 respectively, p= 0.006). Women with high levels of serum FFAs had more than two folds increased risk for neonatal admission to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit OR (2.4). Conclusion: This study suggests that elevated total serum FFAs might be an associated predisposing factor with preeclampsia in non-obese pregnant women.