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Introduction: Preeclampsia can lead to a number of adverse maternal and perinatal effects. The association between iron status [serum iron, ferritin and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC)], unsaturated iron-binding capacity, hepcidin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and preeclampsia is not fully understood. Objective: To assess the levels of iron status, hepcidin and interleukin-6 in women with preeclampsia compared with healthy pregnant women. Method: A case-control study (60 women were recruited in each group) was conducted at Saad Abuelela Maternity Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan. Sociodemographic and clinical data were gathered through a questionnaire. The levels of iron status, hepcidin and IL-6 were measured using applicable methods. Results: There was no significant difference in the median [interquartile range (IQR)] of age, parity or body mass index between the two groups. Moreover, the median (IQR) of the iron status, hepcidin and interleukin-6 did not differ between women with preeclampsia and healthy controls. There were no significant correlations between haemoglobin, hepcidin and IL-6. There were also no significant correlations between serum iron, serum ferritin, hepcidin and IL-6. However, there was a significant positive correlation between hepcidin and IL-6 (r = 0.393, p = 0.002). Conclusion: In this study, women with preeclampsia had levels of iron status, hepcidin and IL-6 similar to those observed in healthy pregnant women. There was no significant correlation between iron status, hepcidin and IL-6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preeclampsia can lead to adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. There are few studies on the genetic factors associated with preeclampsia in Africa in general and in Sudan in specific. Methods: A case–control study (60 women in each arm) was conducted at Saad Abualila Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan, from March to September 2018. The participants were genotyped for vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) rs3025039, interleukin 1 beta (IL1β) rs16944, and IL1β rs1143634 by performing polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, and the results were confirmed by DNA sequencing. Results: There was no significant difference in the age, parity, body mass index, or other characteristics tested between the preeclampsia group and the control group (60 women in each arm). The rs3025039, rs16944, and rs1143634 genotypes were distributed in accordance with Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (p >.05). For rs3025039, CT, CT+TT, and the T allele were risk factors for preeclampsia (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4; 95% CI [1.12–5.32]; p =.02; OR = 2.49 [1.17–25.27]; p =.01; OR = 2.05; 95% CI [1.10–3.83]; p =.02, respectively). Regarding rs16944, only the heterozygous genotype CT was associated with preeclampsia (OR = 2.55; 95% CI [1.15–5.56]; p =.01). Regarding rs1143634, CT, CT+TT, and the T allele were risk factors for preeclampsia (OR = 5.28; 95% CI [2.26–12.33]; p <.001; OR = 4.50; 95% CI [2.06–9.81]; p <.001; OR = 2.75; 95% CI [1.48–5.12]; p =.001, respectively). Conclusion: Polymorphisms in IL1β and VEGFA were associated with preeclampsia in this setting. Significant associations were observed between preeclampsia and rs3025039, rs16944, and rs1143634. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the exact pathophysiology of preeclampsia is not fully understood, several elemental micronutrient abnormalities have been suggested to play a contributory role in preeclampsia. Aims: To investigate the levels of calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper in women with preeclampsia. Subjects and Methods: A case—control study was conducted in Omdurman Maternity Hospital, Sudan, during the period of September through December 2014. The cases were women with preeclampsia while healthy pregnant women were the controls. The medical and obstetrics history was gathered using questionnaires. The serum levels of calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in their age, gestational age, parity and body mass index. Zinc and copper levels were not significantly different between the two groups. In comparison with the controls, women with preeclampsia had a significantly lower median (inter-quartile) serum calcium [7.6 (4.0─9.6) vs. 8.1 (10.6─14.2), mg/dl, P = 0.032] and higher levels of magnesium [1.9 (1.4─2.5) vs. 1.4 (1.0─1.9) mg/dl; P = 0.003]. In binary logistic regression, lower calcium (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.56 ─ 0.95, P = 0.021) and higher magnesium (OR = 5.724, 95% CI = 1.23 ─ 26.50, P = 0.026) levels were associated with preeclampsia. There were no significant correlations between levels of hemoglobin and these trace elements. Conclusion: The current study showed significant associations between preeclampsia and serum levels of calcium and magnesium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leptin receptor gene (LEPR) variants may affect the leptin levels and act as a risk factor for preeclampsia. Two LEPR gene missense variants rs1137101 (c.668A>G) and rs1805094 (c.1968G>C) were investigated in Sudanese women with preeclampsia. Methods: A matched case-control study (122 women in each arm) was conducted in Saad Abualila Maternity Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan from May to December 2018. The cases were women with preeclampsia and the controls were healthy pregnant women. Genotyping for LEPR gene variants c.668A>G and c.1968G>C was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Logistic regression models (adjusted for age, parity, body mass index and hemoglobin level) were conducted. Results: Genotype frequency of LEPR gene variants c.668A>G and c.1968G>C was in accordance with Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (P > 0.05) in the controls. Allele G in LEPRc.668A>G variant was significantly more frequent in the cases compared with the controls [43.4% vs. 10.2%; OR = 6.44; 95%CI (3.98–10.40); P < 0.001]. In variant LEPRc.668A>G, genotype AG was the prevalent genotype in the cases compared with the controls, and it was significantly associated with preeclampsia risk [37.7% vs. 15.5%; AOR = 3.48; 95%CI (1.15–10.54); P = 0.027]. Likewise, the GG genotype was the second most common genotype in the cases compared with the controls, and was associated with preeclampsia risk [24.6% vs. 2.5%; AOR = 14.19; 95%CI (1.77–113.76); P = 0.012]. None of the LEPRc.1968G>C variant genotypes were associated with preeclampsia. The CC genotype was not detected in neither the cases nor the controls. The haplotype A-G 70.1% was the prevalent haplotype in this population, and it significantly protected against preeclampsia [OR = 0.14; 95%CI (0.09–0.23); P < 0.001]. However, the haplotype G-G 26.8% was significantly associated with preeclampsia risk [OR = 6.70; 95%CI (4.16–11.05); P < 0.001]. Both variants c.668A>G and c.1968G>C were in strong linkage disequilibrium (D′ = 1, r2 = 0.012). Conclusions: Our data indicate that the rs1137101 (c.668A>G) variant and G-G haplotype may independently associate with the development of preeclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preeclampsia can lead to adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. There are few studies on the association of preeclampsia with thrombophilia in Africa including Sudan. Methods: A case –controls study was conducted at Saad Abualila Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan during the period of February through November 2017. The cases were women with preeclampsia and healthy pregnant women were the controls (180 women in each arm of the study). Genotyping for Factor-V Leiden 1691G/A and Prothrombin gene variation 20210G/A was done by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP). Results: There was no significant difference in the age, parity, body mass index (BMI) and the other characteristics between the cases and the controls. Genotypes distribution of Factor V Leiden 1691G/A and prothrombin gene 20210G/A in controls was in accordance with the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (P > 0.05). The factor V Leiden-variation was present in 9.6% of the cases compared with 0.6% of the controls, P < 0.001 (OR = 18.60, 95% CI = 2.38–136.1). Only 4 patients with severe preeclampsia had homozygous variation A/A and it was not detected in the controls. Prothrombin G20210A variations not detected neither in the cases nor in the controls group. Conclusions: High prevalence of Factor V Leiden 1691G/A variation in preeclamptic patients compared to controls suggest an involvement of this variation in predisposing to preeclampsia in this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]