Investigation of antioxidant enzyme levels in maternal and fetal erythrocytes in pregnants with preeclampsia

Aim: Free radical induced lipid peroxidation has been suggested as a possible pathogenic factor of preeclampsia. İn this study, we were aimed to measure antioxidant enzyme activity in erythrocytes in maternal and fetal circulation in preeclamptic patients in the third trimester. Material and metod: Maternal and umblical venous blood were obtained from thirty preeclamptic and thirty-one normotensif women with singletton pregnancy in the third trimester. The activites of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined in plasma and erythrocytes. Results: Patients ages and gestational weeks were not different in both groups (p>0.05). İn maternal erythrocytes of patients with preeclampsia, whilst GSH-Px and SOD levels were significantly higher than control (1857±13.2 vs 1387±123.8 U/gHb and 2593.2+330.7 vs 2041+200.3 U/gHb; p<0.01, respectively), CAT levels were significantly lovver (71.2±18.1 vs 137.3+271 K/gHb; p<0.01). Although, SOD levels in umblical erythrocytes of patients with preeclampsia were significantly higher than control (1818.5±151.5 vs 1535.8±169.2 U/gHb; p<0.01), CAT and GSH-Px levels were not different (84.8+14.3 vs. 97.1±31.8 K/gHb and 1207.5±117.5 vs 1211.4±103.7 U/gHb;p>0.05, respectively). Independent t test was used for statistical analysis. p<0.05 was accepted as significantly. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that increase in oxidative stress in preeclampsia results in development of defence mechanism both in maternal and fetal circulation to protect against reactive oxygen species. CAT has no impact on this protective effect in preeclampsia.