The imbalance between NO and ET-1 may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.

No statistically significant difference existed between normotensive pregnant, and pre-eclamptic women, with regard to plasma lipoprotein(a) levels. It is improbable that high serum lipoprotein(a) levels are risk factors for the development of pre-eclampsia; however, elevated triglyceride-rich lipoproteins might cause endothelial damage leading to pre-eclampsia.

Malignant struma ovarii is a rare form of ovarian germ cell tumors. Because of its rarity, diagnosis and management of the tumor has not been clearly defined. A 52-year-old female with follicular variant of papillary carcinoma arising in struma ovarii is presented. There was no evidence of clinical malignancy or metastases. However on the basis of histopathologic findings, the case was diagnosed as malignant struma ovarii. It was accepted as stage Ia tumor and no other treatment was considered after radical excision. Due to its fairly good prognosis, surgical excision has been the preferred treatment for those who do not have disseminated disease. Nevertheless, long-term follow-up is necessary to determine the course of the disease.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between maternal serum homocysteine levels in preeclampsia and the severity of the disease, neonatal serum homocysteine levels, maternal complications, and fetal outcome. Fifty pregnant women were included in this prospective study, of which 25 were severe (group I) and 25 were non-severe preeclamptic (group II). Maternal and neonatal serum homocysteine levels were measured by the fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) method. Maternal homocysteine levels in both groups were compared. The association of maternal and neonatal serum homocysteine levels with maternal complications and fetal outcome was investigated. When the maternal serum homocysteine cut-off value was accepted as 15 micromol/L, significant differences in relation to maternal (eclampsia; hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome) and fetal (in utero mort fetalis, low birthweight) complications were observed between the group with maternal serum homocysteine level > 15 micromol/L and the group with maternal serum homocysteine level < or = 15 micromol/L ( p < 0.05). Hyperhomocysteinemia during pregnancy is a risk factor for both development of preeclampsia and its complications. Given that the diagnosis and treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia is possible, clinical trials to determine whether treatment to reduce homocysteine would be valuable in the prevention of both maternal and fetal complications in preeclampsia should be designed.

No abstract