Empirical Study of Pre-Eclampsia Predictors and Perinatal Outcomes at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu State

Pre-eclampsia and its complications including eclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and iatrogenic preterm delivery contribute substantially to maternal and perinatal morbidity in Nigerian teaching hospitals, and the identification of early predictors could transform management. This study empirically examines the clinical and biochemical predictors of pre-eclampsia and its associated perinatal outcomes at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu State. A nested case-control design within a prospective obstetric cohort is applied, with 200 cases of pre-eclampsia matched to 200 normotensive controls by gestational age and parity. Predictors evaluated include first-trimester serum placental growth factor, uterine artery Doppler pulsatility index, body mass index, prior hypertension history, and primigravidity. Perinatal outcomes include gestational age at delivery, birth weight, Apgar scores, neonatal ICU admission, and perinatal mortality. Conditional logistic regression in SPSS identifies the strongest predictive model. Available obstetric literature from South East Nigeria identifies low PIGF, elevated uterine artery pulsatility index in the first trimester, and nulliparity as the most informative early predictors of pre-eclampsia. The ISSHP 2018 classification of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy provides the diagnostic framework. Findings will support the implementation of a first-trimester combined pre-eclampsia screening pathway at the institution. Keywords: pre-eclampsia, predictors, perinatal outcomes, Enugu State, South East Nigeria.