Résumé
To evaluate the possible role of homocysteine [Hcy] in inducing oxidative stress in preeclampsia, plasma Hcy was measured. Twenty preeclamptic pregnant, 20 normotensive pregnant and 20 healthy non- pregnant women were analyzed with regard to plasma Hcy, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant status, tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF- alpha], cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid and creatinine. Plasma Hcy concentrations were significantly higher in preeclamptic women than in controls [11.9 and 8.3 mumol/L, respectively. Similarly, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances [TBARS], as an index of lipid peroxidation were significantly higher in preeclamptic women than healthy non-pregnant women [1.97 vs 0.61 mumol/L, again with no significant difference between normotensive pregnant and healthy non- pregnant women. A significant decrease of antioxidant vitamins [vitamin C and vitamin E], glutathione [GSH] and antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase and glutathione peroxidase [GSHPx]] were observed in the serum and erythrocytes of preeclamptic women compared to women with normotensive pregnancy. Serum TNF-alpha, cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid and creatinine showed high levels in preeclamptic pregnant women when compared to both other groups