Comparative study of lactoferrin and other blood markers of inflammatory stress between preeclamptic and normal pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: To test lactoferrin as a blood discriminator of neutrophil activation between normal and preeclamptic pregnancy. DESIGN: Comparative study between normal (n = 40) and preeclamptic women receiving treatment (n = 42) in the third trimester of pregnancy and in the post partum period (30 women with normal pregnancy and 22 with preeclampsia). METHODS: Blood, serum or plasma measurements of neutrophils, lactoferrin, vitamin C, vitamin E, lipid peroxidation products, elastase, C-reactive protein (CRP), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma GT), haptoglobin, osmotic fragility, urea, creatinine, uric acid, transaminases (ASAT, ALAT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), platelets, red and white blood cells. RESULTS: In preeclamptic women the ratios of lactoferrin per neutrophil or per erythrocyte are higher before delivery than in normal women but decrease after delivery. Delivery induces a greater inflammatory response in normal pregnancy as detected by blood concentrations of inflammatory markers and hepatic and renal parameters. CONCLUSION: Whereas in normal pregnant women neutrophil activation increases with delivery, in preeclamptic women the opposite occurs.

Lactoferrin as a sensitive blood marker of neutrophil activation in normal pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: To test lactoferrin as a marker of neutrophil activation during pregnancy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study in normal pregnant (n = 100), nonpregnant (n = 11) and post partum women (n = 30). METHODS: Serum or plasma measurements of neutrophils, lactoferrin, vitamin C, vitamin E, lipid peroxide, elastase, C-reactive protein gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, haptoglobin and osmotic fragility. RESULTS: During normal pregnancy all markers of neutrophil-activation increase. CONCLUSION: Neutrophil-activation compromises the antioxidant defense mechanism during normal pregnancy.