MATERNAL AND FETAL PLASMA-CONCENTRATIONS OF ENDOTHELIN, LIPIDHYDROPEROXIDES, GLUTATHIONE-PEROXIDASE AND FIBRONECTIN IN RELATION TO ABNORMALUMBILICAL ARTERY VELOCIMETRY

Objective: To study plasma concentrations of endothelin (ET), lipidhyd roperoxides (LOOH), glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) and fibronectin in relation to abnormal umbilical artery velocimetry. Study design: Plasm a concentrations of ET, LOOH, GSHpx and fibronectin were measured in f etal and maternal venous blood in: (i) a control group (n=10); (ii) in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) (n= 6) or preeclampsia (n=5) with positive end diastolic flow; and in (iii ) pregnancies complicated by absent or reversed end diastolic (ARED) f low in the umbilical artery (n=18). All children were delivered by pri mary caesarean section. Results: The significantly highest maternal an d fetal ET concentrations were found in plasma collected in pregnancie s complicated by ARED flow in the umbilical artery. Maternal fibronect in levels were significantly raised in the ARED flow group. Maternal p lasma ET levels were lowest in pregnancies complicated by IUGR. The ma ternal and fetal plasma concentrations of LOOH and GSHpx did not diffe r significantly between the groups. Conclusion: Abnormal Doppler veloc imetry, especially ARED flow is associated with elevated maternal and fetal plasma levels of ET. The exact mechanism causing the placental v asoconstriction is unknown yet, but oxidative stress seems not to be i nvolved. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.