Susceptibility of red blood cell lipids to in vitro oxidation and antioxidant status in preeclampsia

ObjectiveTo investigate susceptibility of red blood cell (RBC) lipids to oxidation and antioxidant status in preeclampsia.Study designTwenty-one women with mild preeclampsia, 21 women with severe preeclampsia, and 20 healthy pregnant women were included in this cross-sectional study. Susceptibility of RBC to oxidative stress was determined by measuring RBC-malondialdehyde levels after incubation with hydrogen peroxide. Vitamins E and C, total carotenoids and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined spectrophotometrically. One-way analysis of variance and correlation analysis were used for statistical analyses.ResultsCompared with the normal pregnant women, susceptibility of RBC to oxidation was enhanced in the mild (p < 0.05) and severe (p < 0.01) preeclampsia groups, TAC was lower in the mild (p < 0.01) and severe (p < 0.001) preeclampsia groups. Vitamin C level was decreased in severe preeclampsia and total carotene level was decreased in mild and severe preeclampsia groups (p < 0.05). GPx activity was also decreased in the mild (p < 0.01) and severe (p < 0.05) preeclampsia groups.ConclusionThe results of the present study supported the oxidative stress hypothesis of preeclampsia and it is possible that RBC play a role in the pathophysiology of the disease.