Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in hypertensive pregnancies.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to evaluate the lipid peroxidation and non-enzymatic antioxidant status in hypertensive complications during pregnancy (preeclamptic and eclamptic) compared with healthy pregnant and non-pregnant patients as controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 25 healthy non-pregnant women as controls, 25 third trimester normal pregnant women and 25 preeclamptic and 25 eclamptic patients of the same trimester. Lipid peroxidation as a thiobarbituric acid reactive substance reduced glutathione, Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Vitamin A.

RESULTS: Lipid peroxidation was significantly elevated and significantly decreased levels of antioxidants were found in preeclamptic and eclamptic patients as compared with normal pregnant and control subjects.

CONCLUSION: Our study gives support to those few studies considering lipid peroxidation as an important factor in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and eclampsia. The decrease in antioxidants, probably of a compensatory nature responding to the increased peroxide load in preeclampsia and eclampsia, may reflect the severity of the disease.