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Serum LDH values in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and their association with maternal and neonatal morbidity: a meta-analysis
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  • Vasilios Pergialiotis,
  • Michalis Panagiotopoulos,
  • Ioannis Bellos,
  • Marianna Theodora,
  • Sofoklis Stavrou,
  • Domali Ekaterini,
  • Angeliki Papapanagiotou ,
  • Georgios Daskalakis
Vasilios Pergialiotis
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - Faculty of Medicine

Corresponding Author:pergialiotis@yahoo.com

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Michalis Panagiotopoulos
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - Faculty of Medicine
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Ioannis Bellos
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - Faculty of Medicine
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Marianna Theodora
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - Faculty of Medicine
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Sofoklis Stavrou
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - Faculty of Medicine
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Domali Ekaterini
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - Faculty of Medicine
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Angeliki Papapanagiotou
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
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Georgios Daskalakis
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - Faculty of Medicine
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Abstract

Objectives: Serum lactate dehydrogenase has been extensively studied in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. However, to date, its clinical usefulness in the field remains unknown. The present meta-analysis has been designed to evaluate differences in serum LDH values among patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and to help determine its diagnostic accuracy as well its predictive accuracy in determining adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods: We searched Medline, Scopus, Clinicaltrials.gov, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials CENTRAL and Google Scholar databases from their inception till March 18, 2021. Meta-analysis was performed using the meta and metafor functions in Rstudio. Pooled mean differences (MD) were calculated with the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman. Meta-regression analyses, publication bias assessment and Trim and Fill function were also performed. The adequacy of the sample size was evaluated with Trial Sequential Analysis. Results: Fifty-two articles were included that comprised 5,340 women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and 2,890 healthy controls. The meta-analysis revealed significant differences among patients with preeclampsia (either mild or severe) compared to controls, as well as among patients with mild and severe preeclampsia. Significant asymmetry was noted after examining funnel plots, however, and the trim and fill analysis revealed that differences were significant only among cases with severe preeclampsia and healthy controls. Morbidity outcomes increased with LDH levels > 600 IU/L and particularly when these exceeded 800 IU/L. However, confidence and prediction intervals indicated an underpowered sample size for the accurate determination of the odds of developing maternal morbidity. Conclusions: Despite the extensive research in the field of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, there is still lack of evidence concerning the diagnostic performance of serum LDH in clinical practice; hence, research should expand in this direction to evaluate its clinical utility.
30 May 2021Submitted to International Journal of Clinical Practice
31 May 2021Submission Checks Completed
31 May 2021Assigned to Editor
25 Jun 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
01 Aug 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
23 Aug 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
23 Sep 20211st Revision Received
24 Sep 2021Submission Checks Completed
24 Sep 2021Assigned to Editor
24 Sep 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
26 Sep 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
10 Oct 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
24 Oct 2021Published in International Journal of Clinical Practice. 10.1111/ijcp.14986