RESUMEN
Pregnancy is a stressful condition in which many physiological and metabolic functions are altered to considerable extent and hypertension is the most commonest problem encountered during pregnancy, complicating 5-10% of pregnancies. Recent reports suggest that free radical induced endothelial damage as an important factor in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Such cell injury might in turn is counteracted by the action of several in vivo antioxidants. But because of increased lipid peroxidation and increased demand of antioxidants , increased oxidative stress is suspected. The present study was undertaken to determine serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and RBC reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in clinically diagnosed preeclamptic women (n=30) and compared with that of normotensive pregnant women and to find out any association between the two parameters. Serum MDA levels were significantly elevated (p value<0.000) and RBC reduced GSH levels were significantly decreased ( p value <0.000) compared to that of normotensive pregnant women. A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between serum MDA and RBC reduced GSH (p value <0.003) in preeclamptic cases.