Alterations in antioxidants enzymes and Malondialdehyde status in preeclampsia

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study was done to determine and evaluate the level of antioxidant enzymes and malondialdehyde (MDA) in preeclamptic women. Method: 100 preeclamptic and 100 healthy pregnant women between the age of 20-32 attending General Hospital Owerri were selected in this study. Fasting veinous blood was collected and was used for the estimation of antioxidant enzymes and malondiadehyde. Result: The result obtained showed that the level of MDA was significantly increased in preeclamptic pregnant women when compared with the healthy control (P<0.05). On the other hand, the level of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) was significantly reduced in preeclamptic women when compared with the control(P<0.05). Conclusions: This observation showed that the antioxidants are excessively used to attenuate the cellular changes mediated by free radicals. Hence, the level of antioxidants are depleted.