Preeclampsia is associated with increased susceptibility of serum lipids to copper-induced peroxidation in vitro.
BACKGROUND
Several reports suggest preeclampsia to be associated with oxidative stress. In view of potential experimental artifacts in these studies, we tested the effect of preeclampsia on the oxidizibility of maternal serum lipids, using an optimized ex vivo method.


METHODS
This prospective study included 28 pregnant women with preeclampsia and 28 women matched for maternal and gestational age with normal pregnancies. Venous blood was drawn from the consenting women. Serum levels of lipid peroxidation products and the kinetics of copper-induced oxidation ex vivo were monitored spectroscopically by continuous recording of absorbance at 245 nm.


RESULTS
The initial optical density (OD) at 245 nm, attributed to preformed products of lipid peroxidation, was higher in the women with preeclampsia than in the controls (1.26 +/- 0.02 vs. 1.17 +/- 0.02 OD units; p = 0.01). The lag phase preceding oxidation, reflecting resistance of serum lipids to oxidation, was significantly shorter in the preeclampsia group than in the controls (47.4 +/- 2.3 vs. 57.6 +/- 4.0 min; p = 0.027).


CONCLUSIONS
High levels of serum hydroperoxides and increased susceptibility of serum lipids to copper-induced peroxidation ex vivo indicate preeclampsia to be associated with high oxidative stress. The role of this high oxidizibility in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia has yet to be evaluated.
Fainaru
Ofer
O
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Israel. fainaru@yahoo.com
Lichtenberg
Dov
D
Pinchuk
Ilya
I
Almog
Benny
B
Gamzu
Ronni
R
Kupferminc
Michael
M
D000328:Adult; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D008055:Lipids; D003300:Copper