Résumé
To investigate the role of superoxide dismutase [SOD] in healthy pregnant women and in pregnant women with preeclampsia. The study was carried out on 80 pregnant ladies selected from the outpatient clinic of the Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital. They were classified into two groups: The control group: Consisting of 50 healthy pregnant ladies. The patients groups: Consisting of 30 ladies diagnosed as preeclamptic patients. All patients were subjected to history taking, clinical examination and blood chemistry for evaluation of SOD level using spectrophotometric assay. Compared with values in normotensive pregnant women. Preeclamptic patients had significantly lower SOD level being 1.54 +/- 0.60 vs. 0.63 +/- 0.36 Units/ml respectively. A cut-off point was detected below which preeclampsia supervenes. This level was calculated to be 1.01 U/ml. The decreased activity of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase may play an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and hence the possibility of the use of antioxidant drugs in high-risk patients which may be of a prophylactic value. The presence of a cut-off point of SOD level may be of value in the preeclampsia prediction issue in high-risk patients