Free Radical-Mediated Cell Disruptions in Pregnancy - A Risk Factor for Preeclampsia

Abstract

Background: Preeclampsia is a multifactorial disorder leading to complications of pregnancy. Vitamin E as an antioxidant has been proved to suppress the oxidative stress mechanism by interfering with the propagation of lipid radicals. The objective of the study was to probe antioxidant nutrient profiles in patients with a risk factor for preeclampsia.

Methods: This study was done in the Obstetric Outpatient Department of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi from 2019-2019. The study group comprised 110 patients divided into three groups as Group A: n=40 Normotensive patients, Group B: n=40 Mild hypertensive (test group I), Group C: n=30 Severe hypertensive (test group II). SPSS version 21 was used for data analysis with p-value 0.05 considered as statistically significant.

Results: Plasma ascorbic acid levels stayed considerably (p<0.001) decreased in both mild cases group B mean+SD (0.36±0.02 mg/ dl) and severe cases group C (0.3±0.02 mg/ dl) of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) women, while matched with the normal expecting women group A (0.49±0.28 mg/d1). Serum alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) (0.32±0.00 mg/dl) and beta-carotene (0.04±0.002 mg/ dl) levels were significantly reduced with p values (p<0.001) highly significant to normal pregnant women (control) p<0.001 and highly significant compared to mild cases of pregnancy-induced hypertensive women. Results also showed Alpha-tocopherol or vitamin E (0.74±0.03) and beta-carotene (0.129±0.00 mg/dl) levels matched with group A. The values of serum Vitamin A in all three groups remains significant.

Conclusion: Adequate antioxidant nutrients have a utility in preventing free radical-mediated cell disruptions (p=0.001) in patients at risk of preeclampsia by protecting endothelial cell damage.​

Keywords: Hypertension; Pregnancy Induced Hypertension; Oxidative Stress; Antioxidants.