ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study assesses the hypothesis that preeclampsia is associated with the change of oxidative system balance by measuring the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activity in preeclampsia. METHOD: Venous blood samples were collected from twenty women with preeclampsia and twenty women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Total lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant activity, antioxidant enzyme activity and antioxidant concentration were measured using flow injection-chemiluminescent method. RESULTS: 1. Total lipid peroxidation(PCOOH) was higher in preeclampsia(717.22+/-93.08 pmol/ml) than in normal pregnant(486.86+/-43.15 pmol/ml) (P<0.05). 2. Total antioxidant activity was significantly higher in preeclampsia(46.02+/-5.95 % inhibition) than in normal pregnant(38.59+/-7.57 % inhibition) (P<0.05).3. Antioxidant enzyme, catalase activity in RBC was lower in preeclampsia(346.59+/-82.84 unit/gHb) than in normal pregnant(440.62+/-72.8 unit/gHb) (P<0.05).4. Antioxidant, alpha-tocopherol concentration in RBC was slightly lower in preeclampsia(33.21+/-7.82 ng/gHb) than in normal pregnant(36.06+/-6.86 ng/gH), but there was no statistically significant difference (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: This data seems to show that preeclampsia is associated with an imbalance between the lipid peroxidation and the antioxidant system.