A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DEGREE OF OXIDATIVE STRESS IN PRE-ECLAMPTIC & HEALTHY PREGNANT WOMEN IN M.P. INDIA

Pregnancy is a stressful condition in which many physiological and metabolic functions are altered to a considerable extent and hypertension is the most common medical problem encountered during pregnancy, complicating 5-10% of pregnancies. Recent reports suggest that free radical induced endothelial cell injury might be a factor in the pathogenesis of pre-eclamptia. Such cell injury might in turn cause uncontrolled lipid peroxidation, which in turn is counteracted by the action of several antioxidants. But because of increased lipid peroxidation and increased demand of antioxidants, increased oxidative stress is suspected. The aim of the present study is to compare lipid peroxidation and enzymatic antioxidant activities in pre-eclamptic women with healthy pregnant women in the late second trimester in MP, India. Normal pregnant women (Group-I) pre-eclamptic women (Group-II) with blood pressure > 140/90 with albuminuria in the late second trimester were taken for the study. They were evaluated for MDA, SOD and Catalase levels. A significant rise in MDA level was observed in both study groups when compared with control. We found significantly high level of MDA in group I subjects comprising of normal pre-eclamptic women (p < 0.01). When comparison was done between group I and group II subjects a significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed i.e. level of MDA was significantly high in group II. In our study the antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT activity was found to be decreased in normal pregnant and pre-eclamptic women comprising group I and II. Fall in SOD & CAT levels was more in pre-eclamptic women. A significant (p < 0.05) difference in antioxidant enzymes was noted on comparing group I with group II. Thus Pregnancy is a physiological state accompanied by high-energy demand of many functions and increased oxygen requirement. Because of increased intake and utilization of oxygen, an increased level of oxidative stress is seen. Pregnancy induced hypertension or pre-eclampsia is a toxic condition that is accompanied by increased oxidative stress. Marker of oxidative stress MDA increases significantly and also a significant decrease in antioxidant enzyme due to their greater utilization is observed. Antioxidant supplementation can prove to be a good adjuvant therapy in controlling the oxidative stress.