Homeostasis status between prooxidants and antioxidants as a potent marker in Iranian preeclamptic patients

OBJECTIVE: To measure the plasma oxidant, lipid peroxidation and antioxidants, ascorbate, to magnify the prooxidants and antioxidants status as a marker of pre-eclampsia.

METHODS: Included in the study were 50 preeclamptic and 100 normotensive pregnant women of singleton gestations in their third trimester, presented in Allavi Hospitals in Ardabil province of Iran from August 2004 to April 2005. Among these patients plasma malonaldehyde (MDA) and vitamin C concentration were analyzed. Blood samples (5 ml) were collected aseptically in heparin bulb. Spectrophotometric methods were employed to determine the plasma concentrations of vitamin C. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences software was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS: In preeclampsia, significant increase in prooxidant MDA was observed as compared to controls. A significant fall in antioxidants vitamin C was noted in preeclampsia as compared to control. The MDA showed a significant balance to the level of vitamin C.

CONCLUSION: Administration of regular nutritive supplementation containing reducing systems like vitamin C should help in maintaining the equilibrium during normal pregnancy and theoretically in preeclampsia too but to what extent they help in clinical practice is still being investigated.