Serum Heat Stable Alkaline Phosphatase in Hypertensive Disorder of Pregnancy

It is generally recognized that a dependable test of placental function is one of the most urgent needs in obstetrics. The advantages of using various placental enzymes as an index of placental function were found in the fact that their measurements are simple procedures. The heat stable fraction of alkaline phosphatase is not destroyed when serum is heated at 65[degrees]C for 30 min. It is secreted by placenta in first trimester and not present in healthy males and healthy non pregnant females. The aim was prediction of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy by assessing the level of HSAP and to establish its relationship with duration of pregnancy. Study was conducted on 100 women in their 2nd half of pregnancy who attended antenatal clinic in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, Manipur during Oct 2013 to April 2014. Serial estimations of Serum HSAP were done by the method of Kind and King. Levels of HSAP were found to be gradually increasing with the duration of pregnancy upto term. Level of HSAP showed a sudden high increase at about 15 days prior to the development of clinical detectable pre-eclamptic toxemia. It was also observed that level even if increased, falls again on improvement of condition by proper management. Estimation of HSAP is one of the easiest methods available. It showed increased levels in pre-eclamptic patients. Its detection in serum can help in early diagnosis and to adopt immediate measures to control it and to minimize maternal and fetal risk.