Circulating Potassium/Magnesium Ratio, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, Fasting Plasma Glucose, Oxidized LDL/Albumin Ratio, and Urinary Iodine Concentration Are Possible Entities for Screening for Preeclampsia in Low-Resource Settings

Background and Objectives: Several micro- and macro-nutrient malnutrition states that are routinely assessed during clinical care of women in the antenatal period have been proposed as risk factors for preeclampsia. However, there is a paucity of data on the potential use of these biomarkers for detection of preeclampsia. The aim of this case-control study was to investigate the association of biomarkers from routine clinical tests, and those specific to micro- and macro-nutrient malnutrition, with the risk of preeclampsia. Materials and Methods: Venous blood samples of 250 participants with preeclampsia and 150 pregnant women without preeclampsia were collected and assayed immediately for the full blood count, urea and electrolytes, high-density cholesterol (HDL), total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OxLDL), and selenium, in addition to urine iodine concentration (UIC). Results: The serum potassium/magnesium ratio (K+/Mg2+), UIC, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), lymphocyte percentage (L/WBC%), and the oxidized LDL/albumin ratio (OxLDL/Alb) were identified as independent predictors of preeclampsia. Conclusions: Serum potassium/magnesium ratio and other analytes essential for various biological processes, some of which are assayed during routine care, were significantly associated with preeclampsia, warranting further exploration as potential screening biomarkers in low-resource settings.