Study of lipid profile, lipid peroxidation and vitamin E in pregnancy induced hypertension.

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a common medical complication of pregnancy with a high incidence. The study comprised of 30 normal and 30 PIH cases in their third trimester of pregnancy and the following estimations were done: Serum Malondialdehyde level (MDA), Vitamin E, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and LDL-C. The PIH cases had significant rise in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) (P=<0.0001). There was a significant rise in the fasting triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL-C levels in PIH (P=<0.0001). MDA was twice in the cases and Vitamin E was half the levels that of controls (P=<0.0001). The level of rise of serum lipids did not significantly correlate with the rise or fall in MDA. In PIH cases there was a negative correlation of diastolic BP with MDA (P<0.05). Early detection of these parameters is going to aid in better management of PIH cases.

Changes in vitamin C and vitamin E during oxidative stress in myocardial reperfusion.

Injury to the myocardial tissue due to ischemia and reperfusion occurs because of imbalance between the formation of oxidants and available antioxidants in the heart. Levels of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and vitamin E (alpha--tocopherol) were evaluated in 52 patients of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated by streptokinase. They were further divided into reperfused group (39 patients) and non-reperfused group (13 patients). Twenty normal healthy subjects served as controls. Vitamin C and vitamin E were estimated in study group before and after thrombolytic therapy and in controls. Vitamin C levels were low in AMI cases as compared to controls (8.74 +/- 1.87 and 10.63 +/- 3.26 mg/L, respectively, P < 0.001). Trend of fall in vitamin C levels in the two study groups was not statistically significant. Vitamin E levels declined from 12.19 +/- 6.71 to 9.96 +/- 6.50 mg/L by 4 hours which was significant (P < 0.01) in the reperfused group, but the change in non-reperfused group (9.28 +/- 6.37 to 9.35 +/- 6.07 mg/dL by 4 hours) was non-significant. This is because of increased consumption of this antioxidant in suppressing the oxidative stress which occurs with reperfusion. Vitamin E can be proposed as a valid marker for reperfusion.

Quantification of coronary risk score.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the coronary risk score in children and/or grandchildren of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: One hundred and fifty children with positive family history of CAD (cases) and age and sex matched children with no such history (controls) were enrolled in the study. Fasting blood sugar, serum cholesterol and triglycerides were estimated on all children and a risk score was calculated using Nora's scheme. RESULT: The cases and controls were similar with respect to mean age, six distribution, mean weight and mean height. None of the child was hypertensive. Mean serum levels of triglycerides were 164.7 m/dl and 105.7 mg% respectively in cases and controls (p < 0.005). Prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia was three times more in cases (p < 0.001). Cases had a significantly higher risk scores (p < 0.00001) and this was mainly attributable to higher biochemical risk (P < 0.0006). CONCLUSION: Children and grand children with a positive family history of CAD had significantly higher risk scores for future CAD. The increased risk was mainly due to biochemical derangements.