No evidence for lipid peroxidation in severe preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to address the role of oxidative stres s in preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: We measured urinary 8,12-iso-iPF(2 alpha)-VI, a chemically st able, free-radical catalyzed product, in a case control study of severe pre eclampsia nested within the trial of Calcium for Preeclampsia Prevention. C ases included 29 women who developed severe preeclampsia and from whom urin e had been obtained 10 to 20 weeks before the diagnosis of preeclampsia, 3 to 9 weeks before, and 1 day before through delivery. Controls did not deve lop hypertension or proteinuria and were matched to cases by center, gestat ional age at each of 3 corresponding urine collections, and date of enrollm ent. RESULTS. Urinary 8,12-iso-iPF2 alpha -VI did not differ significantly betwe en cases and controls before or at diagnosis of preeclampsia, nor did it va ry with gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: These results call into question the importance of oxidative s tress in the disease and the biochemical rationale for clinical trials of a ntioxidants to prevent and treat preeclampsia.