Introduction: Hemorrhage, infection and hypertension during pregnancy are the most important causes of maternal mortality. Folic acid affects on development, angiogenesis, DNA synthesis and proliferation and hemocystein metabolism. The aim of this study was comparing plasma folate concentration in pregnant women with and without pre-eclampsia.
Methods: This descriptive and analytical study was conducted on 60 pregnant women who referred to Ghaem hospital, Mashhad, Iran in 2008. Women were divided into in two groups of 30 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia by detection of obstetrician and 30 pregnant women without pre-eclampsia that had normal blood pressure. Both groups answered demographic and pregnancy characteristics questionnaires. Blood test was done to measure serum folate concentration. Data were analyzed using statistical tests such as Chi-square, t-student and ANOVA. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: There were significant differences between folate concentration in two group (p<0.001). The mean of serum folate in pre-eclampsia group was 0.87±0.67 ng/L and without pre-eclampsia 1.42±0.57 ng/L. There was significant relationship in confidence level of 90% between usage of folic acid in pregnancy and folate concentration (p<0.09).
Conclusion: Pregnant women with pre-eclampsia had lower folate concentration than pregnant women without pre-eclampsia, but the difference is significant in confidence level of 90%.