RADICAL-SCAVENGING ANTIOXIDANTS IN PREECLAMPSIA AND ECLAMPSIA

Objective: Increased free-radical activity may be implicated in the pa thogenesis of pre-eclampsia and knowledge of the response of the antio xidant systems is limited in pre-eclampsia and lacking in eclampsia. A ccordingly, this study was initiated to assess total antioxidant statu s in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Method: Thirty-five patients with pr e-eclampsia (20 mild and 15 severe), 10 patients with eclampsia and 20 normotensive women (controls) with singleton gestations in the third trimester participated in this study. Their freshly drawn blood was as sayed for total antioxidant status colorimetrically using incubation m ixture of ABTS, a peroxidase (metmyoglobin) and H2O2. In addition, ser um fibronectin was determined by radial immunodiffusion. Result: Serum total antioxidant status levels in mild and severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia were significantly lower than that of healthy pregnant women (controls). The mean percent decreases amounted to 22 %, 40 % and 59 %, respectively, indicating the propensity of these patients to oxidat ive stress. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that radical-scaveng ing antioxidants are consumed by the increased free-radical activity i n pre-eclampsia. The mechanisms by which free radicals are involved in endothelial dysfunction and renal injury are explained as evidenced b y significant negative correlation of fibronectin and positive correla tion of creatinine clearance with total antioxidants. (C) 1998 Interna tional Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.