Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To measure the ultrafiltrable and total plasma calcium in normal pregnancy and pregnancies complicated with hypertension and pre-eclampsia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Total and ultrafiltrable calcium concentrations were measured in maternal plasma from non-pregnant (35), normal pregnant (35), Pregnancy induced hypertension (35) and pre-eclamptic (20) women. Plasma total calcium level was measured by the o'cresolphthalein method. Ultrafiltrate of plasma was obtained using the Amicon MPS-1 micro-partition device. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the plasma total calcium level between the non- pregnant group and the pregnant group (normal, hypertensive and pre-eclamptic). However there was a significant reduction in the ultrafiltrable (protein free and complexed) calcium level in the pregnant group compared to the non-pregnant group (1.15mmol/L +/- 0.23 Vs 1.25mmol/L +/- 0.13) p<0.05. CONCLUSION: Measurement of the ultrafiltrable calcium in addition to total calcium assay may be more useful in assessing calcium status in normal and complicated pregnancies.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 213-216 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | The Nigerian postgraduate medical journal |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| State | Published - 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine