Increased protein carbonyls as markers for oxidative stress in amniotic fluid of preeclamptic women at term / 대한산부인과학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the content of protein carbonyls in amniotic fluid is elevated in preeclamptic women at term. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted to compare contents of protein carbonyls in term amniotic fluid (gestational age at amniocentesis > or = 37 wks) among women who were healthy pregnant, preeclamptic and chronic hypertensive. Protein carbonyls were measured by specific immunoassay. Nonparametric techniques were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: 1) The median amniotic fluid protein carbonyl of preeclamptic women was significantly higher than that of normal pregnant women (median 0.663 nmol/mg, range 0.013-1.726 nmol/mg vs. median 0.395 nmol/mg, range 0.069-1.503 nmol/mg, p<.05). 2) There was no significant difference in the amniotic fluid protein carbonyl level between women with chronic hypertension and normal pregnant women (median 0.823 nmol/mg, range 0.064-1.575 nmol/mg vs. median 0.395 nmol/mg, range 0.069-1.503 nmol/mg, p=.14). 3) The median amniotic fluid protein carbonyl showed tendency to increase with severity of preeclampsia without reaching statistical significance (normal pregnancy, median 0.395 nmol/mg, range 0.069-1.503 nmol/mg; mild preeclampsia, median 0.663 nmol/mg, range 0.013-1.054 nmol/mg; severe preeclampsia, median 0.842 nmol/mg, 0.391-1.726 nmol/mg; p=.07). The median protein carbonyl in amniotic fluid of women with severe preeclampsia was significantly higher than that of normal pregnant women (median 0.842 nmol/mg, range 0.391-1.726 nmol/mg vs. median 0.395 nmol/mg, range 0.069-1.503 nmol/mg, p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The protein carbonyls increased in amniotic fluid of women with preeclampsia, but not chronic hypertension at term.