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: Comparat ive study between normal (n = 40) and preeclamptic women receiving tre atment (n = 42) in the third trimester of pregnancy and in the post pa rtum period (30 women with normal pregnancy and 22 with preeclampsia). Methods: Blood, serum or plasma measurements of neutrophils, lactofer rin, vitamin C, vitamin E, lipid peroxidation products, elastase, C-re active protein (CRP), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma GT), haptogl obin, osmotic fragility, urea, creatinine, uric acid, transaminases (A SAT, ALAT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), platelets, red and white blood cells. Results: In preeclamptic women the ratios of lactoferrin per n eutrophil or per erythrocyte are higher before delivery than in normal women but decrease after delivery. Delivery induces a greater inflamm atory 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.