PLACENTAL MALONDIALDEHYDE AND GLUTATHIONE LEVELS IN A CONTROLLED TRIAL OF ANTIOXIDANT TREATMENT IN SEVERE PREECLAMPSIA

Objective: To investigate the changes occurring in placental lipid per oxide and antioxidant levels in a clinical trial of antioxidant treatm ent. Design: Randomized, placebo controlled. Subjects and Methods: Pla cental samples from patients in the controlled trial (n = 56) and heal thy normal deliveries (n = 10). Intervention: Combined antioxidant tre atment with vitamin E, vitamin C, and allopurinol. Main Outcome Measur es: Effect of antioxidant therapy on placental lipid peroxides express ed as malondialdehyde-thiobarbituric acid reactive (MDA-TBAR) levels, and glutathione as an antioxidant. Results: Placental MDA-TBAR and glu tathione levels were similar in the antioxidant and placebo groups. Bo th MDA-TBAR and glutathione levels were significantly higher in the pr eeclampsia patients (antioxidant and placebo) compared to levels in pl acentas from healthy normal deliveries. Conclusion: The combined antio xidant treatment protocol did not result in measurable changes in lipi d peroxide levels. The higher MDA-TBAR levels in trial patients confir m increased lipid peroxidation in preeclampsia. High glutathione level s suggest increased activation of antioxidant systems.