PREECLAMPSIA, LIPID-PEROXIDATION, AND CALCIUM ADENOSINE-TRIPHOSPHATASE ACTIVITY OF RED-BLOOD-CELL GHOSTS

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effect of lipid peroxidation on the calciu m adenosine triphosphatase activity of red blood cell ghosts from norm otensive pregnant women and compared it with the adenosine triphosphat ase activity and lipid peroxidation in preclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: Ten nulliparous normotensive and 10 nulliparous preeclamptic pregnant wome n (38 to 39 weeks of gestation) were used as blood donors. Preeclampsi a was diagnosed on the basis of blood pressure (>140/90 mm Hg) and pro teinuria (>0.5 gm of urinary protein per day). Red blood cell ghosts w ere prepared far both groups and used for calcium adenosine triphospha tase activity and lipid peroxidation determinations. Control ghosts (n ormotensive) were irradiated with ultraviolet light for different leng ths of time. RESULTS: Calcium adenosine triphosphatase activity of red blood cell ghosts from normotensive women is sensitive to lipid perox idation. The lipid peroxidation of red blood cell ghosts from preeclam ptic women is higher than that from normotensive women. CONCLUSION: Th e diminution of the calcium adenosine triphosphatase activity with pre eclampsia could be explained by the sensitivity of this adenosine trip hosphatase to lipid peroxidation.