A prospective study of maternal carboxyhaemoglobin and pre-eclampsia risk

Analysis of serum calcium, sodium, potassium, zinc, and iron in patients with pre-eclampsia in Bangladesh: A case-control study

Background and Aims

Pre-eclampsia is a particular type of pregnancy condition. Although the primary etiology of pre-eclampsia is unclear, it hypothesizes that the alteration of trace elements and macro-minerals may play a crucial function in the pathogenesis of Pre-eclampsia. Therefore, our research sought to ascertain the serum level of trace elements (zinc, iron) and macro-minerals (sodium, calcium, potassium) and their possible association with pre-eclampsia.

Methods

The present study was conducted with 74 pre-eclampsia pregnant women (case) and 118 pregnant women having normal blood pressure (controls). Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy determined the serum level of trace components and electrolytes.

Results

The researchers discovered notable differences in maternal age, gestational period, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin, and creatinine level. Results of serum analysis revealed that calcium (52.06 ± 3.71 mg/L vs. 65.93 ± 2.57 mg/L, p < 0.05) and potassium (63.44 ± 5.33 mg/L vs. 102.54 ± 4.25 mg/L, p < 0.001) concentrations were substantially lower in the patient group than in control. Serum zinc (0.34 ± 0.02 mg/L vs. 0.52 ± 0.02 mg/L, p < 0.001) and iron (0.38 ± 0.03 mg/L vs. 0.46 ± 0.02 mg/L, p < 0.05) concentration were also considerably decreased in pre-eclampsia participants compared with a pregnant normotensive group. Pearson's correlation research results in the patient group revealed a connection between trace elements or macro minerals. In addition, the systolic blood pressure was positively correlated with sodium (r = 0.392, p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with potassium (r = -0.257, p < 0.05) in the control group.

Conclusions

This study concludes that calcium, potassium, iron, and zinc levels were lower, whereas sodium levels were higher in Bangladeshi pre-eclampsia patients compared to controls. These findings with Pearson's correlation and the inter-element relationship between the patient and a control subject results can act as critical indication factors for patients with pre-eclampsia in Bangladesh and, as a result, may require a higher intake of calcium, potassium, iron, and zinc for effective therapeutic intervention and reduce the intake of sodium.

Risk of preeclampsia from exposure to particulate matter (PM₂.₅) speciation chemicals during pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether maternal exposure to particulate matter (PM₂.₅) speciation chemicals during pregnancy is associated with the risk of preeclampsia.

METHODS

We allocated average daily exposure values for 36 ambient particulate matter speciation chemicals to mothers during their first trimester and their entire pregnancy. The main outcome of interest was preeclampsia occurrence. Adjusted odd ratios and 95% confidence intervals were computed.

RESULTS

The odds for preeclampsia were increased per interquartile range increase in pollutants for exposure to elemental carbon during the first trimester of pregnancy (odds ratio = 1.08; confidence interval = 1.01 to 1.16) and during the entire pregnancy period (odds ratio = 1.05; confidence interval = 1.01 to 1.11). The most substantial risk for preeclampsia was observed for PM2.5 aluminum exposure during the entire pregnancy, resulting in 10% increased risk (odds ratio = 1.10; confidence interval = 1.03 to 1.18) per interquartile range increase in aluminum.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal exposure to PM2.5, aluminum, and elemental carbon during pregnancy increases the risk of preeclampsia.

Environmental carbon monoxide related to pregnancy hypertension

Carbon monoxide pollution frequently occurs due to auto exhaust, industrial emissions, and/or cigarette smoke. Exogenous and endogenous carbon monoxide affects blood pressure; however, the relation of carbon monoxide exposure to pregnancy hypertension has not been systematically examined. For the present study the authors recruited a total of 2,707 apparently healthy, non-obese, non-smoking mothers, aged between 15 and 40 years, who had singleton births, and who lived within two miles of the selected air monitoring stations in Tehran, Iran, to study the relation of ambient carbon monoxide to pregnancy hypertension (>140 mmHg systolic and/or >90 mmHg diastolic after the 20th week of gestation). A relatively small but statistically significant elevation in mean postpartum diastolic blood pressure (mean ± SD, 69.5 ± 9.8 mmHg) was observed in the mothers' who were exposed to relatively high ambient carbon monoxide (mean = 14.1 ppm) compared to mothers exposed to lower carbon monoxide (mean = 1.8 ppm) concentrations (mean ± SD, 68.0 ± 8.3 mmHg, p < 0.01). The authors found twice the rate of pregnancy hypertension in the relatively higher carbon monoxide exposed mothers than the mothers with lower exposure (adjusted odds ratio = 2.02, 95% CI 1.35-3.03). Findings of the present study suggest that high level ambient carbon monoxide exposure is associated with pregnancy hypertension.

Ambient carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter in relation to preeclampsia and preterm delivery in western Washington State

BACKGROUND

Preterm delivery and preeclampsia are common adverse pregnancy outcomes that have been inconsistently associated with ambient air pollutant exposures.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to prospectively examine relations between exposures to ambient carbon monoxide (CO) and fine particulate matter [≤ 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5)] and risks of preeclampsia and preterm delivery.

METHODS

We used data from 3,509 western Washington women who delivered infants between 1996 and 2006. We predicted ambient CO and PM2.5 exposures using regression models based on regional air pollutant monitoring data. Models contained predictor terms for year, month, weather, and land use characteristics. We evaluated several exposure windows, including prepregnancy, early pregnancy, the first two trimesters, the last month, and the last 3 months of pregnancy. Outcomes were identified using abstracted maternal medical record data. Covariate information was obtained from maternal interviews.

RESULTS

Predicted periconceptional CO exposure was significantly associated with preeclampsia after adjustment for maternal characteristics and season of conception [adjusted odds ratio (OR) per 0.1 ppm=1.07; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02-1.13]. However, further adjustment for year of conception essentially nullified the association (adjusted OR=0.98; 95% CI, 0.91-1.06). Associations between PM2.5 and preeclampsia were nonsignificant and weaker than associations estimated for CO, and neither air pollutant was strongly associated with preterm delivery. Patterns were similar across all exposure windows.

CONCLUSIONS

Because both CO concentrations and preeclampsia incidence declined during the study period, secular changes in another preeclampsia risk factor may explain the association observed here. We saw little evidence of other associations with preeclampsia or preterm delivery in this setting.