Background: Pre-eclampsia is a specific disease of pregnancy with multisystemcomplications. We conducted this study to examine the relationship between lactic dehydrogenase concentrationand the severity of the disease and the occurrence of its complications. Material/Methods: One hundredeleven pre-eclamptic women (49 with mild and 62 with severe pre-eclampsia) and 60 healthy normotensivecontrols were studied prospectively at the King Hussein Medical Center between January and December 2002.Demographic, hemodynamic, and laboratory data were compared among the three groups. The symptoms andcomplications of severe pre-eclampsia along with fetal outcome were analyzed according to the levelsof LDH (800 IU/l). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the chi-square test wereused to compare the results. Differences were considered significant when p800 IU/l compared withthose who had lower levels. Conclusions: Lactic dehydrogenase is a useful biochemical marker that reflectsthe severity of and the occurrence of complications of pre-eclampsia. Identification of high-risk patientswith elevated levels of lactic dehydrogenase, their close monitoring, and prompt, correct managementmay prevent these complications, with a subsequent decrease in maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: Pre-Eclampsia - diagnosis, Biological Markers - analysis, L-Lactate Dehydrogenase - metabolism, Pre-Eclampsia - pathology, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Outcome, Prospective Studies