Appraisal of Oxidative Stress Markers, Vitamin E and their Correlation with Blood Pressure in Preeclampsia: A Case Control Study

Preeclampsia (PE), a hypertensive disorder unique to pregnancy and contributes to majority of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The triggering event in preeclampsia is postulated to be placental ischemia and endothelial dysfunction. In this context the present study was undertaken to investigate serum levels of nitric oxide, thiobarbituiric acid reacting substances (TBARS) and Vitamin E (Vit E) and their correlation with blood pressure in preeclamptic pregnant women.

Fifty clinically diagnosed preeclampsia patient and fifty age and trimester matched normotensive pregnant women were included in the study. Fasting venous sample were collected and nitric oxide, TBARS and vitamin E levels were measured.

The mean values of serum nitric oxide, TBARS were significantly higher (< 0.001) in women with preeclampsia when compared to normotensive group whereas vitamin E levels were significantly lower among cases than the control group. Also observed that nitric oxide levels and TBARS positively correlated and vitamin E negatively correlated with the blood pressure and correlations were statistically significant.

The findings of present study points increased oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant levels may result in endothelial cell dysfunction. The levels of nitric oxide, TBARS and vitamin E could be used to assess the severity of preeclampsia in addition to other clinical and laboratory parameters.