Lipid Peroxide Levels and Total Peroxyl Radical Trapping Ability in Umbilical Venous Plasma of Preeclampsia

Kim, Yoon Ha; Ahn, Bong Whan; Yang, Sung Yeul; Kang, Woo Dae; Kim, Ki Min; Kim, Seok Mo; Song, Tae Bok

Abstract

Our purpose was to investigate lipid peroxide levels and total peroxyl radical-trapping antioxidative parameter (TRAP) values in umbilical venous plasma of normal pregnancy and preeclampsia. Lipid peroxide levels in umbilical venous plasma of normal pregnancy (n=20) and preeclampsia (n=16) were measured by thiobarbituric acid reaction. The TRAP in umbilical venous plasma was analyzed in 28 women with normal pregnancies and in 16 pregnant women with preeclampsia. The TRAP value in umbilical venous plasma was measured by Wayner's method, although some reaction conditions were modified. Ascorbic acid and uric acid levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-CoulArray detector of water- soluble antioxidants. Retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and gamma-tocopherol levels were measured by HPLC-CoulArray detector of fat-soluble vitamins. Lipid peroxide levels in umbilical venous plasma of women with pree- clampsia were significantly higher than those of women with normal pregnancy (10.0+/-0.9 vs. 5.9+/-0.5 nmol/mg protein, p<0.01). The TRAP values in umbilical venous plasma were found to increase pro- gressively with advancing normal pregnancy during 26-41 weeks gestational age (n=28, r=0.72, p<0.01). The TRAP values in umbilical venous plasma of women with preeclampsia (n=16) were significantly lower than those of women with gestational age-matched normal pregnancy (n=20), (0.39+/-0.01 vs. 0.45+/-0.01 mM, p<0.05). Ascorbic acid levels in umbilical venous plasma of women with preeclampsia were significantly lower than those of women with normal pregnancy (325.4+/-49.2 vs. 543.3+/-74.9 nmol/ml, p<0.05). We suggest that the imbalance of increased lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant activity in placenta is involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, and it may also have effects on the antioxidant status of the fetus.