Nitric, oxide, lipid peroxides, and uric acid levels in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia

Abstract

The aim was to study the role of nitric oxide (NO), lipid peroxides (LPX), and uric acid in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Plasma levels of NO metabolites (nitrite+nitrate), malonyldialdehyde (MDA), and uric acid and erythrocyte MDA levels were compared between normal pregnant, pre-eclamptic, and eclamptic pregnant women in third trimester. Student's t-test was used for statistical evaluation. Plasma NO metabolites levels were higher in eclamptic group (35.7±16.5 μmol/liter, p<0.05) but not in pre-eclamptic group (22.1 ±10.8 μmol/liter) than control group (18.8±6.9 μmol/liter). Plasma MDA and uric acid concentrations were higher in preeclamptic (4.4±1.7 nmol/ ml, p<0.05; 0.45±0.11 mmol/liter, p<0.05, respectively) and eclamptic (5.8±1.9 nmol/ ml, p<0.05; 0.47±0.12 mmol/liter, p<0.05) groups compared with control group (3.0±1.3 nmol/ml; 0.35± 0.06 mmol/liter). Erythrocytes MDA concentrations were higher only in eclamptic group (174.4±62 nmol/gHb, p<0.05) than control group (139.2±49.5 nmol/gHb). These results suggest that NO, LPX, and uric acid are important factors in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, and that NO production and LPX are directly related to the severity of disease. © 2004 Tohoku University Medical Press.