BLOOD-LEVELS OF LIPIDS, LIPOPEROXIDES, VITAMIN-E AND GLUTATHIONE-PEROXIDASE IN WOMEN WITH HABITUAL ABORTION

Plasma levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, cholesterol esters, phosp holipids, lipoperoxides, vitamin E and erythrocyte glutathione peroxid ase activity showed no significant differences between 40 women with h abitual abortion and controls. However, the levels of free fatty acids (FFA), which are extremely cytotoxic compounds, were significantly hi gher in women with habitual abortion (HA) than in controls (16.8 +/- 6 .7 vs 8.6 +/- 3.7 mg/100 ml, p < 0.01, respectively). The high amounts in FFA in HA women during pregnancy were probably due to a continuous and/or excessive stress-dependent discharge into the blood of catecho lamines from autonomic nerve endings. These catecholamines can induce a strong uterine vasoconstriction and placental ischemia-hypoxia which , in association with additional insults caused by reoxygenation, migh t lead to eventual miscarriage.