RESUMO
The exact pro-oxidant and antioxidant status in pregnancy--induced hypertension patients is still not clear. To add a new insight to the question, changes in the erythrocyte lipid peroxidation products (malondialdehyde; MDA), levels of glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid and plasma vitamin E (non enzymatic antioxidant parameters) and activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase in erythrocytes were studied in thirty five patients with pregnancy--induced hypertension and thirty five healthy pregnant normotensive cases. It was observed that there was a significant increase in erythrocyte MDA levels, activities of SOD, GPx and a significant decrease in erythrocyte GSH, ascorbic acid, plasma vitamin E levels and catalase activity in patients with pregnancy--induced hypertension when compared to controls. The results of our study have shown higher oxygen free radical production, evidenced by increased levels of MDA and decreased levels of GSH, ascorbic acid, vitamin E and Catalase activity supports the oxidative stress in pregnancy--induced hypertension. The increased activities of antioxidant enzymes may be a compensatory regulation in response to increased oxidative stress. The decreased concentrations of glutathione and antioxidant vitamin status supports the hypothesis that lipid peroxidation is an important causative factor in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.