Antioxidant enzyme activities in erythrocytes of healthy pregnant women, preeclamptic women and newborns

Abstract

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific syndrome of unknown etiology and represents multisystem disorder. It is characterized by the increased blood pressure, proteinuria, and edema. Preeclampsia is a great risk for both mother and fetus. Disturbances of the balance between the production of reactive oxygen species antioxidants status is considered to be one of the causes of various pathological conditions of the reproductive system, including preeclampsia. The main objective of this study is to determine the activities of superoxide-dismutase and catalase in peripheral blood erythrocytes of the pregnant women with preeclampsia and healthy pregnant women before delivery and umbilical cord blood erythrocytes of their babies immediately after the delivery. The results showed that the activity of superoxide dismutase in erythrocytes were statistically significantly lower in the group of patients with preeclampsia than in healthy pregnant women, as in the group of their babies compared to the babies of healthy pregnant women. Similarly, catalase activity was significantly lower in women with preeclampsia compared to the controls, as well as in erythrocytes of their babies compared to babies of healthy mothers. An observed difference in the antioxidant enzyme activities suggests a putative association between preeclampsia and decreased antioxidant status. Since the direct application of antioxidants did not give expected results of the data presented indicate the opportunity for the prevention of preeclampsia and alleviation of symptoms by dietary measures and life style changes in the population of pregnant women and women of childbearing age, directy targeting the enzymatic antioxidant system.