Plasma, urinary, and salivary 8-epi-prostaglandin F 2α levels in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies

Abstract

Objective: Our purpose was to measure and compare plasma, urinary, and salivary concentrations of 8-epi-prostaglandin F 2α (8-isoprostane) in women with normotensive pregnancies and the respective concentrations in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. Study Design: Plasma, urinary, and salivary 8-isoprostane levels were measured in pregnant women with preeclampsia (n = 40), normotensive pregnant women (n = 20), and nonpregnant women (n = 10). One-way analysis of variance was used to determine significant differences. Results: Plasma free 8-isoprostane concentrations were increased in women with severe preeclampsia (342 ± 50 pg/mL), in comparison with nonpregnant women (129 ± 17 pg/mL) and normotensive pregnant women (150 ± 11 pg/mL; P = .003, and .0001, respectively). Urinary excretion of 8-isoprostane was slightly but not significantly decreased in preeclampsia (1200 ± 227 pg/mL), in comparison with urinary excretion in nonpregnant women (1625 ± 364 pg/mL) and normotensive pregnant women (2149 ± 432 pg/mL). Salivary concentrations of 8-isoprostane were increased in normotensive women (496 ± 113 pg/mL), in comparison with nonpregnant women (150 ± 27 pg/mL) but were not related to preeclampsia (419 ± 96 pg/mL; P ≤ .003). Conclusion: Free 8-isoprostane concentrations are increased in the plasma of women with severe preeclampsia. Further studies are warranted to determine whether such increases are caused by an increase in phospholipase A 2 activity, or by lipid peroxidation, or by a decrease in renal excretion. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;183:874-7.)