Plasma and placental nitric oxide levels in women with and without pre-eclampsia living at different altitudes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the nitric oxide (NO) levels in the plasma and the placentas of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia and women without pre-eclampsia, and to determine the effect of high or low altitude of residence. METHODS: NO was determined by chemoluminescence and group comparisons were performed. RESULTS: Women with pre-eclampsia (n=63) had higher plasma NO levels (38.6+/-17.44 vs 30.6+/-12.44 micromol/L, P=0.004) and higher placental NO levels (38.5+/-17.0 vs 24.3+/-7.16 ng/mg protein, P<0.05) compared with women without pre-eclampsia. A similar trend was found when comparisons were made according to altitude of residence. NO levels were significantly higher in the plasma of pre-eclamptic women living at sea level (41.11+/-18.78 vs 28.96+/-9.57 micromol/L, P=0.003), and in the placentas of women living at high altitude (39.51+/-16.98 vs 21.91+/-6.64 ng/mg protein, P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Women with pre-eclampsia had higher plasma and placental NO levels and the differences were associated with altitude of residence.

Coenzyme Q10 levels in women with preeclampsia living at different altitudes.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is a common disorder of pregnancy exhibiting abnormal plasma and placental coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) levels when compared to normal pregnancies. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate CoQ10 levels both in plasma and placenta among normal pregnant (n = 60) and preeclamptic (n = 63) primigravid women and determine the effect of high or low altitude residency. STUDY DESIGN: CoQ10 was determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) technique and group comparisons were performed. RESULTS: Preeclamptic women living at high altitude displayed significantly lower CoQ10 plasma levels (0.64 +/- 0.23 vs. 0.82 +/- 0.46 micromol/L, p = 0.05). No differences were found in CoQ10 plasma levels among women living at sea level. Interestingly, plasma CoQ10 levels at low altitude in normal pregnancies were significantly lower than high altitude normal pregnancies. Compared to normal pregnancies, preeclamptic women displayed higher placental CoQ10 content, which was only significant among those living at sea level (0.120 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.076 +/- 0.04 ng/mg protein, p < 0.005). Normal pregnant women living at high altitude displayed higher placental CoQ10 content when compared to those residing at sea level (p < 0.0005). CONCLUSION: Women suffering from preeclampsia (high or low altitude) display high placental CoQ10 content, with significant low plasma CoQ10 levels among those residing in high altitude. More research is warranted to establish the cause-effect relationship between CoQ10 levels and preeclampsia.