Lipid peroxidation in pregnancy with preeclampsia and diabetes

We studied lipid peroxidation and vitamin E levels in 12 diabetic preeclamp tic, 13 nondiabetic preeclamptic, 8 gestational diabetic, 25 normotensive p regnant women, and 25 healthy nonpregnant women. A significant increase in malonaldehyde (MDA) levels was observed in preeclamptic and diabetic preecl amptic women as compared to normotensive pregnant and healthy controls (p < 0.001). An increase in MDA levels was observed in gestational diabetics, b ut The difference was not statistically significant. Likewise, a significan t fall in vitamin E levels was noted in preeclamptic and diabetic preeclamp tic groups as compared to controls (p < 0.001), Gestational diabetics had a slight decrease in vitamin E levels relative to controls. These findings s uggest that lipid peroxidation plays a role in the pathogenesis of preeclam psia, Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.