Susceptibility of red blood cell lipids to in vitro oxidation and antioxidant status in preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate susceptibility of red blood cell (RBC) lipids to oxidation and antioxidant status in preeclampsia.

STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-one women with mild preeclampsia, 21 women with severe preeclampsia, and 20 healthy pregnant women were included in this cross-sectional study. Susceptibility of RBC to oxidative stress was determined by measuring RBC-malondialdehyde levels after incubation with hydrogen peroxide. Vitamins E and C, total carotenoids and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined spectrophotometrically. One-way analysis of variance and correlation analysis were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS: Compared with the normal pregnant women, susceptibility of RBC to oxidation was enhanced in the mild (p<0.05) and severe (p<0.01) preeclampsia groups, TAC was lower in the mild (p<0.01) and severe (p<0.001) preeclampsia groups. Vitamin C level was decreased in severe preeclampsia and total carotene level was decreased in mild and severe preeclampsia groups (p<0.05). GPx activity was also decreased in the mild (p<0.01) and severe (p<0.05) preeclampsia groups.

CONCLUSION: The results of the present study supported the oxidative stress hypothesis of preeclampsia and it is possible that RBC play a role in the pathophysiology of the disease.