LEVELS OF ERYTHROCYTE MALONYLDIALDEHYDE, VITAMIN-E, REDUCED GLUTATHIONE, G6PD ACTIVITY AND PLASMA URATE IN PATIENTS OF PREGNANCY-INDUCED HYPERTENSION

To assess the oxidative stress across the cell membrane in patients su ffering from pregnancy induced hypertension, erythrocyte malonyldialde hyde, vitamin E, reduced glutathione, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenas e activity and plasma urate levels were estimated in 25 non pregnant w omen, 40 normotensive pregnant women and 40 women with pregnancy induc ed hypertension (PIH). As compared to non pregnant women, there was a significant increase in the levels of erythrocyte malonyldialdehyde an d plasma urate in normotensive pregnant women, which were further incr eased in women with PIH. Erythrocyte glutathione levels were raised in normotensive pregnant women as compared to non pregnant women. Its le vels were decreased in patients of PIH as compared to normotensive pre gnant women. Cellular bio-availability of vitamin E was depressed in b oth normotensive pregnancy as well as patients with pregnancy induced hypertension as compared to non pregnant women.