ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess maternal circulating levels of lipid peroxides, superoxide dismutase and total antioxidants of women with pregnancy-induced hypertension. METHODS: Cross-sectional study consisting of 18 preeclamptic, 21 uncomplicated pregnant and 22 healthy non-pregnant women. Fasting venous blood samples were collected during the 3rd trimester of antepartum period and maternal circulating levels of malondialdehyde as a lipid peroxidation product, superoxide dismutase activity and total antioxidants were measured. RESULTS: In the preeclamptic group, lipid peroxides were significantly increased, otherwise the activity of superoxide dismutase in the erythrocytes was significantly decreased compared to normal pregnant women. The value of serum total antioxidants was similar in both groups. Strong correlation was detected between malondialdehyde and blood pressure in the pregnant women. CONCLUSION: Preeclampsia is associated with decrease of antioxidant enzyme activity while lipid peroxidation was increased during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Therefore, a significant elevated lipid peroxidation and reduced superoxide dismutase activity may contribute to pathophysiology and pathogenesis of preeclampsia via vascular endothelial cell damage.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Antioxidants , Blood Pressure , Cross-Sectional Studies , Endothelial Cells , Erythrocytes , Fasting , Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced , Lipid Peroxidation , Lipid Peroxides , Malondialdehyde , Pre-Eclampsia , Pregnant Women , Superoxide DismutaseABSTRACT
Ovarian serous tumors of low malignant potential (borderline serous tumors) are intermediate in their clinical behavior between benign serous cystadenoma and malignant neoplasm, and are associated with 10 year survival rates in excess of 90%. Borderline ovarian serous tumors are characterized by absence of stromal invasion but presence of some characteristics of malignancy. Borderline ovarian tumors occur predominantly in premenopausal women, and associated with a very good prognosis. The principal treatment of borderline malignancy is surgical resection of the primary tumor. But approximatley 20% of patients with ovarian tumors of low malignant potential present with Stage III or IV disease at the time of diagnosis. The benefit of postsurgical therapy in this group of patients has not been well established. We report two cases of advanced ovarian serous borderline tumor, one of which was treated with 3 cycles of cisplatin-taxol chemotherpy.