Low plasma levels of oxidized low density lipoprotein in preeclampsia.
BACKGROUND
Markers of lipid peroxidation are commonly used to assess oxidative stress in preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to assess the concentration of oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL), a novel marker for lipid peroxidation, and that of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the pathogenesis of severe preeclampsia and to investigate the influence of gestational age on these parameters.


METHODS
Plasma levels of oxLDL and TBARS were assayed in women with severe preeclampsia (n = 40), normotensive pregnant controls matched for gestational age (n = 24) and normotensive pregnant controls at full term (n = 16).


RESULTS
Women with preeclampsia showed lower oxLDL levels (mean +/- SE) than matched controls (181 +/- 12 vs. 219 +/- 14; p = 0.027), whereas no differences were found for the TBARS concentration (3.8 +/- 0.6 vs. 3.7 +/- 0.4). When women with preeclampsia were compared to control women at full term, TBARS were elevated (3.8 +/- 0.6 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.2; p = 0.01). However, in women with normotensive pregnancy TBARS were also lower in full-term control pregnancy compared to early third-trimester values (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma TBARS decreased during the third trimester of pregnancy, underlining the importance of matching for gestational age when studying markers of lipid peroxidation in pregnant women. Women with preeclampsia had lower plasma levels of oxLDL compared to gestational age-matched controls, indicating that oxLDL could be a marker for preeclampsia.
Raijmakers
Maarten T M
MT
Department of Gastroenterology, University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. maarten.rijmakers@kcl.ac.uk
van Tits
Berry J H
BJ
Hak-Lemmers
Heidi L M
HL
Roes
Eva Maria
EM
Steegers
Eric A P
EA
Peters
Wilbert H M
WH
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein