Essential fatty acids profile and lipid peroxides in severe pre-eclampsia

There is increasing evidence that an imbalance between products of arachido nic acid metabolism (such as prostaglandins, prostacyclin and thromboxane A 2) and lipid peroxidation products might have a role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. In order to study some of the changes taking place in pre-ec lampsia, the plasma concentrations of essential fatty acids and lipid perox idation products [measured as thiobarbituric-acid (TBA)-reactive substance] were evaluated in 25 patients with severe pre-eclampsia and 20 normal preg nant control subjects. Arachidonic acid concentration (median and range) wa s significantly higher in the pre-eclamptic group (14.1; 11.0-19.8 mu g/L) compared with the normal pregnant subjects (25; 2.0-4.4 mu g/L). Plasma con centration of TBA-reactive substance was also significantly higher in the p re-eclamptic cases (14.8; 13.4-16.8 vs 11.4; 9.0-12.8). These results sugge st that arachidonic acid and lipid peroxidation products may play a role in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.