Defective antioxidant mechanisms via changes in serum ceruloplasmin and total iron binding capacity of serum in women with pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the role of serum ceruloplasmin, its ferroxidase activity and total iron binding capacity in women with pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
Thirty primigravidas between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation were studied. The subjects were divided into two groups: group A consisted of 15 normal pregnancies with a mean gestational age of 33.9 weeks, and group B consisted of 15 pre-eclamptics with a mean gestational age of 32.8 weeks.


RESULTS
The pre-eclamptics presented significantly higher serum ceruloplasmin levels compared to those with normal pregnancies (P<0.01), while the mean ferroxidase activity levels of ceruloplasmin did not differ significantly between the two groups (450.13+/-110.88 and 467.26+/-135.35 micromol/l/min in groups A and B, respectively). The mean+/-S.D. serum iron level (104.48+/-39.81 microg/dl) was greater whereas the total iron binding capacity (55.59+/-8.47 micromol/l) was lower in women with preeclampsia when compared to normal pregnancies (P<0.01 and P<0.0001 respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that the plasma of pre-eclamptic women shows a loss of ferroxidase activity of ceruloplasmin as well as a reduction of total iron binding capacity. Thus, it seems that the plasma of pre-eclamptic women lacks the protective anti-oxidative action of these substances.
Vitoratos
N
N
2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology University of Athens, Areteion Hospital, Greece.
Salamalekis
E
E
Dalamaga
N
N
Kassanos
D
D
Creatsas
G
G
D000328:Adult; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D003124:Colorimetry; D005260:Female; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005865:Gestational Age; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007501:Iron / Q000502:physiology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000737:chemistry
D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014168:Transferrin; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D007501:Iron; D002570:Ceruloplasmin