Title:The Involvement of Uric Acid in the Pathogenesis of Preeclampsia
Volume: 11
Issue: 2
Author(s): Sophia Masoura, Kali Makedou, Theodoros Theodoridis, Anargyros Kourtis, Leonidas Zepiridis and Apostolos Athanasiadis
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Antioxidant, biomarker, oxidant, pathogenesis, preeclampsia, uric acid.
Abstract: Preeclampsia is a common disorder of human pregnancy and a major cause of worldwide
pregnancy-related maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Oxidative stress, angiogenic
imbalance, placental ischemia and an inflammatory response have been proposed to play role in the
pathogenesis of the disease. Hyperuricemia is a key biochemical feature in preeclampsia with elevated
levels of uric acid being diagnosed as early as the 10th week of gestation. Traditionally, elevated uric
acid levels were considered a result of renal dysfunction known to exist in preeclampsia. The contribution of uric acid in
the pathogenesis of preeclampsia is being recently further investigated. We, hereby, review the possible mechanisms by
which uric acid contributes to the development of the disease and its complications both on mother and fetus.