LOW WHOLE-BLOOD GLUTATHIONE LEVELS IN PREGNANCIES COMPLICATED BY PREECLAMPSIA OR THE HEMOLYSIS, ELEVATED LIVER-ENZYMES, LOW PLATELETS SYNDROME

Objective: To investigate the pathophysiologic involvement of glutathi one in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia or the hemolysis, eleva ted liver enzymes, low platelets (HELLP) syndrome. Methods: Total whol e blood glutathione levels were measured by high performance liquid ch romatography in 23 women with pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia or the HELLP syndrome and in 22 normotensive gravidas. Total glutathio ne levels and the total glutathione/hemoglobin ratios of patients were compared with those of controls by the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Median total glutathione levels were lower in preeclamptic pregnancies or those complicated by the HELLP syndrome than in normotensive pregn ancies (647 [range 268-986] and 750 [range 495-1572] mu mol/L, P = .05 ). The median total glutathione/hemoglobin ratios were significantly l ower in preeclamptic pregnancies or in those complicated by the HELLP syndrome than in normotensive pregnancies (0.079 [range 0.033-0.122] a nd 0.101 [range 0.073-0.210], P = .02).Conclusion: Decreased total glu tathione levels in maternal whole blood might indicate decreased detox ificating or free radical scavenging capacity in pregnancies complicat ed by preeclampsia or the HELLP syndrome. (Obstet Gynecol 1998;92:1012 -15. (C) 1998 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologis ts.).