Serum Ceruloplasmin in Pre-eclampsia: A Case–Control Study in a Tertiary Health Centre in Southwest Nigeria
Joy Onyinyechi Chionuma, Olusegun Cosmos Adebara, Nosimot Omolola Davies, Oladimeji Abiodun Makinde, Kabiru Afolarin RabiuAbstract
Background:
Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy disorder linked with increased maternal and perinatal complications. An imbalance between free radical-induced lipid peroxidation and the antioxidant system may contribute to its pathogenesis.
Aims:
This study aimed to compare serum ceruloplasmin levels in women with pre-eclampsia and their normotensive counterparts and to assess its predictive value for disease severity.
Subjects and Methods:
A prospective case–control study was conducted involving 100 pregnant women diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, matched for age and parity against 100 healthy controls. Patients with pre-eclampsia were classified into mild (55) and severe (45) pre-eclampsia groups. Data on demographics, obstetric characteristics and outcomes were collected. Ceruloplasmin protein concentration was measured using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Data analysis was performed using Stata Version 17. The reference range of serum ceruloplasmin for determining the risk of pre-eclampsia was from the 2.5
th
to the 97.5
th
percentile of the controls. The statistical significance level was set at
Results:
The median interquartile range (IQR) serum ceruloplasmin levels were 21 mg/dL (IQR 17.5–23.8) in normotensive women, 35.5 mg/dl (IQR, 33.8–38.3) in mild pre-eclampsia, and 46.5 mg/dL (IQR, 42.5–49) in severe pre-eclampsia, with significant differences (
Conclusion:
Serum ceruloplasmin was elevated in pre-eclampsia, and the levels correlate with the severity of pre-eclampsia. The sensitivity and specificity observed in this study suggest that ceruloplasmin may be a potential marker for discriminating between normotensive pregnant women and those with pre-eclampsia. Elevated levels may be an indicator of severe disease.