Increased Oxidative Stress Affects the Neonatal Birth Weight in Preeclamptic Patients / 대한산부인과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the maternal circulating levels of homocysteine, the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and the glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities, and to determine whether or not these markers have any effect on the neonatal birth weight in preeclamptic patients. METHODS: A case control study of 74 normal pregnant women and 47 preeclamptic patients who were hospitalized for delivery and had singleton live births between 2000 and 2002 was conducted. The birth weight, gestational age, and maternal circulating level of homocysteine, the TBARS, the GPX activities, and the antioxidant capacity (GPX/TBARS) were measured. GPX genotyping was done with the maternal DNA samples. The results were analyzed with a Chi-square test, student T-test, and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The homocysteine and TBARS levels were significantly higher in the preeclamptic patients than in the pregnant controls (p=0.0098 for homocysteine, p0.05). After controlling for the covariates, homocysteine reduced the gestational age (p=0.0035) and reduced the birth weight by 27 g (p=0.0259). CONCLUSION: The levels of the oxidative stress markers (homocysteine and TBARS) are higher and the antioxidant capacity (GPX/TBARS) is lower in preeclampsia patients. Homocysteine significantly reduces the fetal growth rate.