Serum antibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein in pregnant women with preeclampsia and chronic hypertension: lack of correlation with lipid peroxides.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the circulating levels of antibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and their correlation with the lipid peroxide/vitamin E ratio in pregnant women with preeclampsia and chronic hypertension.


METHODS
Antibodies to oxidized LDL were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay, lipid peroxides (malondialdehyde), and vitamin E were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Patients were 25 healthy pregnant women, 20 previously nonhypertensive women diagnosed with preeclampsia, and 20 women with uncomplicated chronic hypertension.


RESULTS
Serum levels of antibodies to LDL in preeclamptic patients were similar to controls, whereas women with chronic hypertension showed a trend for increased mean levels. Lipid peroxides in serum were significantly increased and vitamin E levels were significantly decreased in preeclampsia with respect to nonhypertensive pregnancy, but no differences were observed for chronic hypertensive women.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that preeclampsia is not accompanied by increased levels of antibodies to oxidized LDL. By contrast, and according to previous studies in nonpregnant patients, chronic hypertensive patients showed a trend for elevated levels.
Gratacós
E
E
Department d'Obstetrícia i Ginecologia, Hospital Cliínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelone, Catalunya, Spain. egratacos@meditex.es
Casals
E
E
Deulofeu
R
R
Gómez
O
O
Cararach
V
V
Alonso
P L
PL
Fortuny
A
A
D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000276:immunology*; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000097:blood*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000276:immunology*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis
D000906:Antibodies; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014810:Vitamin E