Lactoferrin as a sensitive blood marker of neutrophil activation in normal pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
To test lactoferrin as a marker of neutrophil activation during pregnancy.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study in normal pregnant (n = 100), nonpregnant (n = 11) and post partum women (n = 30).


METHODS
Serum or plasma measurements of neutrophils, lactoferrin, vitamin C, vitamin E, lipid peroxide, elastase, C-reactive protein gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, haptoglobin and osmotic fragility.


RESULTS
During normal pregnancy all markers of neutrophil-activation increase.


CONCLUSIONS
Neutrophil-activation compromises the antioxidant defense mechanism during normal pregnancy.
Rebelo
I
I
Departamento de Bioquimica da Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
Carvalho-Guerra
F
F
Pereira-Leite
L
L
Quintanilha
A
A
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology*; D018375:Neutrophil Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015415:Biomarkers; D007781:Lactoferrin; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase