ISSN: 2474-9230
Authors: Rashid FJB*, Badal FA, Akhter SN, Pervin R, Smita AS, Bithi RJ, Naher N and Siddika S
A hydatidiform mole (HM) is a gestational trophoblastic disease that originates from the placenta. The exact cause of it is still unknown. Failure in the early detection of the condition may expose women to a higher rate of severe complications including persistent gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. Vitamin D deficiency is common in women of reproductive age and its lower level is presumably related to abnormal implantation, uncharacteristic fetal growth patterns, adverse birth outcomes, and reproductive failure. The present study is designed to evaluate the association of maternal serum vitamin D level with hydatidiform mole. The knowledge of which expected to be used for the prevention of hydatidiform mole and its complications and correction of deficiency during pregnancy. This was a case-control study among purposively selected pregnant women attending the outpatient and inpatient department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Child and Mother Health, Matuail, Dhaka from January 2021 to December 2021. A total of 70 pregnant women between 18-45 years of age were included in this study in their first trimester (up to 13 weeks) of gestation. Among them, 35 diagnosed women with hydatidiform mole were considered as the cases and the rest of the 35 matched healthy pregnant women were selected as controls. After taking consent and matching eligibility criteria, data were collected from patients on variables of interest using the predesigned semi-structured questionnaire by interview, observation, relevant clinical examination and laboratory investigation of the participants. Their maternal serum vitamin D level was investigated. Descriptive analysis was done using Microsoft Excel 2010 and the analytic software SPSS v27.0, where required. The overall average maternal serum vitamin D levels were significantly low among the cases compared to controls (18.27±8.89 vs. 26.29±8.01 ng/mL, P<0.001). The difference in serum vitamin D levels between partial and complete moles was not significant (p>0.05). Maternal serum vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were noted more in the cases 45.7% and 31.4% respectively, while 57.1% of the controls had sufficient levels of vitamin D level (P=0.010). Considering maternal serum vitamin D level of 30 ng/mL as a cut-off value, odd’s ratio calculation showed HM was 4.5 times more likely in women with low maternal serum vitamin D level (<30) than those with ≥30 ng/dL (OR=4.50, CI95%=1.599-12.664; P=0.003). In conclusion, a low level of maternal serum vitamin D level was found associated with hydatidiform mole.
Keywords: Pregnancy; Maternal Serum; Vitamin D Level; Women
