Serum homocysteine at 16 weeks and subsequent preeclampsia

Objective: To determine whether elevated homocysteine levels precede the de velopment of preeclampsia. Methods: Study subjects were selected from a population-based cohort of 104 9 nulliparous women from whom serum was collected for Down syndrome screeni ng at 16 weeks' gestation. For 34 women who developed preeclampsia, 68 cont rol women were chosen who remained normotensive. Homocysteine was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection. The s ample size allowed detection of a 1.25-mu mol/L difference at a significanc e level of .05 and the power of .81. Results: At 16 weeks' gestation, concentrations (mean, 95% confidence inter val) of homocysteine in women who developed preeclampsia, 6.99 (6.42, 7.55) mu mol/L, were similar to those who remained normotensive, 6.91 (6.45, 7.3 4) mu mol/L. Conclusion: Significant changes in homocysteine metabolism did not predate the appearance of clinical preeclampsia. (C) 2001 by The American College o f Obstetricians and Gynecologists.