Maternal and fetal indicators of oxidative stress during Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH).

ABSTRACT

The present study demonstrates the possibility of increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in both maternal and fetal erythrocytes as markers of oxygen radical activity during pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). The erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly elevated in mothers with PIH when compared to controls (p<0.001). The endogenous protein damage due to oxidative stress was significantly higher in mothers with PIH when compared to controls (p<0.01). Similarly the proteolytic activity in erythrocyte lysates against oxidatively damaged hemoglobin was significantly increased in mothers with PIH compared to controls (p<0.001). In babies born to mothers with PIH, erythrocyte MDA levels were significantly elevated in comparison those of normal newborns (p<0.01). Both the endogenous oxidative protein damage and erythrocyte proteolytic activity were significantly higher in newborns born to mothers with PIH than in newborns in the control group (p<0.01). The results of this study indicate that oxidative stress is induced both in mothers with PIH as well as their babies which is manifested as increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidant damage.