British JournaI of Obstetrics and Gynaecofogy June 1979. Vol86. pp 450457
BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES OF NORMAL PREGNANCY AND PUERPERIUM IN LAGOS, NIGERIA BY
J. T. AGOBE A. AKINKUGBE Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
H. 0. ADEWOYE A. E. BOYO Department of Clinical Pathology College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, P M B 12003, Lagos, Nigeria W. GOOD AND
K. W. HANCOCK Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Leeds Maternity Hospital), University of Leeds, England
Summary A cross-sectional study is presented of biochemical changes in the third trimester of normal pregnancy and puerperium during the wet season in the tropical climate of Lagos, Nigeria. These changes are less marked in first than in subsequent pregnancies, and although qualitatively similar, in some respects they differ from those observed in the temperate climatic zone. The indications are that quantitative differences may exist which could be relevant to the management of pregnancy in the tropics. ancillary staff, and school girls. Women with cardiac disease, respiratory disease, nephritis and hypertension were excluded, as were women on any form of oral contraception and those who were menstruating at the time. The 60 pregnant subjects, including 25 primigravidae, were in the third trimester of pregnancy and were attending the antenatal clinics of Lagos University Teaching Hospital and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital during May and June 1977. None suffering from any of the disorders listed above was included. Thirty-five women who had normal pregnancies and deliveries at term were also investi-
THE majority of studies on the biochemical changes of normal pregnancy have been carried out in temperate climate (Hytten and Lind, 1973) and there is little corresponding information about pregnancy in the tropics. We therefore present an evaluation of biochemical changes in the third trimester of normal pregnancy and puerperium during the wet season in Lagos, Nigeria. METHODS The control subjects were 51 non-pregnant women, of whom 31 were nulliparous. They were drawn from hospital nursing, administrative and 450
BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN PREGNANCY AND PUERPERIUM
45 1
gated from 0 to 6 weeks post-partum; eight were gen, 0.357; uric acid, 0.0598; creatinine, 88.4 and glucose, 0.0555. primiparae. No ethnic group selection was applied and the The blood pressures were recorded with the subjects comfortably seated upright. The point sample population included representatives of of muffling of the sound (phase IV) was read as the major tribes resident in the city. As far as possible, investigations were done the diastolic pressure and the mean arterial pressure was calculated from the measured between 1030 and 1400 hours and the subjects had nothing to eat or drink less than two hours values. Usually blood pressure measurement and before investigation. blood sample collection were within 5 minutes of each other. The 20 ml blood samples were drawn from the antecubital vein using a tourniquet, transferred RESULTS to lithium-heparin containers and the plasma The data on 31 non-pregnant nulliparous was separated within two hours of collection. women and 25 third trimester primigravidae are Two ml volumes of plasma were used for osmolality determination by the Advanced given in Table I. There was no significant Osmometer, Model 3L, while the remainder was difference in age, plasma sodium, potassium, used for the determination of sodium, potaschloride, cholesterol, uric acid, creatinine, sium, chloride, bicarbonate, total protein, osmolality or mean arterial pressure, but in late albumin, total calcium, cholesterol, urea nitropregnancy levels of plasma bicarbonate (P
BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES OF NORMAL PREGNANCY AND PUERPERIUM IN LAGOS, NIGERIA BY
J. T. AGOBE A. AKINKUGBE Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
H. 0. ADEWOYE A. E. BOYO Department of Clinical Pathology College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, P M B 12003, Lagos, Nigeria W. GOOD AND
K. W. HANCOCK Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Leeds Maternity Hospital), University of Leeds, England
Summary A cross-sectional study is presented of biochemical changes in the third trimester of normal pregnancy and puerperium during the wet season in the tropical climate of Lagos, Nigeria. These changes are less marked in first than in subsequent pregnancies, and although qualitatively similar, in some respects they differ from those observed in the temperate climatic zone. The indications are that quantitative differences may exist which could be relevant to the management of pregnancy in the tropics. ancillary staff, and school girls. Women with cardiac disease, respiratory disease, nephritis and hypertension were excluded, as were women on any form of oral contraception and those who were menstruating at the time. The 60 pregnant subjects, including 25 primigravidae, were in the third trimester of pregnancy and were attending the antenatal clinics of Lagos University Teaching Hospital and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital during May and June 1977. None suffering from any of the disorders listed above was included. Thirty-five women who had normal pregnancies and deliveries at term were also investi-
THE majority of studies on the biochemical changes of normal pregnancy have been carried out in temperate climate (Hytten and Lind, 1973) and there is little corresponding information about pregnancy in the tropics. We therefore present an evaluation of biochemical changes in the third trimester of normal pregnancy and puerperium during the wet season in Lagos, Nigeria. METHODS The control subjects were 51 non-pregnant women, of whom 31 were nulliparous. They were drawn from hospital nursing, administrative and 450
BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN PREGNANCY AND PUERPERIUM
45 1
gated from 0 to 6 weeks post-partum; eight were gen, 0.357; uric acid, 0.0598; creatinine, 88.4 and glucose, 0.0555. primiparae. No ethnic group selection was applied and the The blood pressures were recorded with the subjects comfortably seated upright. The point sample population included representatives of of muffling of the sound (phase IV) was read as the major tribes resident in the city. As far as possible, investigations were done the diastolic pressure and the mean arterial pressure was calculated from the measured between 1030 and 1400 hours and the subjects had nothing to eat or drink less than two hours values. Usually blood pressure measurement and before investigation. blood sample collection were within 5 minutes of each other. The 20 ml blood samples were drawn from the antecubital vein using a tourniquet, transferred RESULTS to lithium-heparin containers and the plasma The data on 31 non-pregnant nulliparous was separated within two hours of collection. women and 25 third trimester primigravidae are Two ml volumes of plasma were used for osmolality determination by the Advanced given in Table I. There was no significant Osmometer, Model 3L, while the remainder was difference in age, plasma sodium, potassium, used for the determination of sodium, potaschloride, cholesterol, uric acid, creatinine, sium, chloride, bicarbonate, total protein, osmolality or mean arterial pressure, but in late albumin, total calcium, cholesterol, urea nitropregnancy levels of plasma bicarbonate (P
