LIPID-PEROXIDATION AND ANTIOXIDANTS IN NORMAL AND PREECLAMPTIC PREGNANCIES

Lipid peroxidation has been suggested as a pathogenetic factor of pre- eclampsia. In this study we measured lipid peroxidation products and t he counteracting antioxidant functions in maternal serum and placental tissue in normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia. Placentae and maternal serum from 15 normal and 15 pre-eclamptic pregnancies were collected. Lipid peroxidation was measured as peroxidation potential, thiobarbitu ric acid reacting substances (TBARS) and conjugated diene double bonds . The antioxidative capacity was measured as the activity of superoxid e dismutase, glucose 6-phosphate-dehydrogenase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase and the concentration of placental vitami n E. Placental lipid peroxidation was higher in pre-eclampsia than in normal pregnancy, when measured by peroxidation potential and TBARS (P =0.002 and P=0.027, respectively). The activity of placental superoxid e dismutase (P=0.003) and glucose 6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (P=0.019) was significantly lower in pre-eclampsia than in normal pregnancy. The re were no significant differences in the activity of glutathione pero xidase, glutathione-S-transferase or vitamin E level between the study groups. The peroxyl radical trapping capacity (TRAP) was higher (P=0. 013) in the serum of pre-eclamptic than control patients. Lipid peroxi dation is increased and the activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glucose 6-phosphate-dehydrogenase are decreased in pre- eclamptic placenta. The TRAP is high in the serum of pre-eclamptic pat ients. (C) 1996 W. B. Saunders Company Ltd