Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension Is Associated with Changes in Maternal and Umbilical Blood Antioxidants

Abstract

Seventeen pregnancies with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and 28 control pregnancies were analyzed with regard to maternal and fetal blood antioxidants and lipid peroxidation products (conjugated dienes). In PIH, maternal blood levels of conjugated dienes were higher than in normal pregnancy. Also the activities of platelet and plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) were higher in PIH. In umbilical cord blood, the appearance of conjugated dienes, the concentration of vitamin E and the activity of erythrocyte GSHPx were lower than the corresponding maternal values. There was no difference between PIH and normal pregnancy in the appearance of conjugated dienes in cord blood, but erythrocyte GSHPx and plasma vitamin A were lower in PIH. Cord blood plasma vitamin A showed a negative correlation to maternal mean arterial pressure. We suggest that lipid peroxidation is involved in the pathogenesis of maternal PIH, and it may also have effects on the vascular function and antioxidant status of the fetus.

Malondialdehyde and Antioxidant Enzymes in Maternal and Cord Blood, and their Correlation in Normotensive and Preeclamptic Women

“…In normotensive cord, SOD increased 8.7% compared to maternal blood, but in preeclamptic cord it decreased to 8.65% as compared to their pair-matched maternal blood, and both the alterations were significant, p = 0.01 and p = 0.011, respectively. Our results pertaining to SOD activity in preeclamptic cord blood are in harmony with the reports of others [6, 7, 11, 12]. …”

“…Significantly decreased enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) have been reported [6, 7, 11, 12] in cord blood of the full term newborns of preeclamptic mothers as compared to their pair-matched maternal blood. Contrary findings of increased SOD activity [8] and no change in the activity of GPx in the cord blood have also been reported [8, 9].…”

Factors affecting serum vitamin a levels in matched maternal-cord pairs

“…In our study, maternal age and parity did not significantly affect the vitamin A levels in either the mother or her newborn; similar to the findings reported by Voebecky et al 12 A positive effect of maternal vitamin A supplementation on both maternal and cord vitamin A levels was demonstrated by Ibrahim et al 13 We found higher cord vitamin A levels in mothers who had attended ANC clinics. Our study protocol did not include a formal vitamin A supplementation to mothers during pregnancy, but it was assumed that mothers who had attended the ANC clinics even once had been given some dietary advice on the consumption of We found lower vitamin A levels in preterm infant, similar to a study by Shah et al 14 A prior study showed a significant effect of maternal toxemia on vitamin A levels in mother and her newborn; 15 our study on the other hand showed no significant difference. Importantly, we recorded lower maternal and cord vitamin A levels in pairs having smaller sized placentae.…”

Role of Biotransformation in Conceptal Toxicity of Drugs and Other Chemicals

“…As compared to normal parturients, the prepartum concentration of serum free fatty acids nearly doubles while malondialdehyde levels post a ~50% rise in the women with preeclampsia [7]. Similar results have been noted by many other investigators [8][9][10].…”