Oxidative stress and antioxidant status in neonates born to pre-eclamptic mother.

OBJECTIVE Pre-eclampsia is a significant health problem and is the leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Low birth weight and prematurity are very common in pre-eclamptic mothers. Pre-eclampsia is associated with oxidative stress in the maternal circulation. To observe the effect of pre-eclampsia on neonates, this study was designed to explore oxidative stress and anti-oxidant status in the fetal circulation in pre-eclampsia. MATERIALS AND METHODS For this purpose, we collected cord bloods during delivery from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Twenty samples were collected from uncomplicated (normotensive) mothers and 15 samples were collected from pre-eclamptic mothers (maternal age matched). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), lipid hydroperoxide, protein carbonyl value, lipid profile, total anti-oxidant status (TAS), vitamin C, serum total protein and albumin were measured. RESULTS It was observed that TBARS and lipid hydroperoxide were significantly (P < 0.001) increased, protein carbonyl content were also significantly (P < 0.001) increased but total anti-oxidant status (P < 0.001) and vitamin C level were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in cord blood from pre-eclamptic mother compared to control group. Cholesterol, TG, LDL level was elevated and HDL were lowered in cord blood in pre-eclamptic group compared to normotensive group. In pre-eclamptic group, cord blood total protein, albumin and globulin level were significantly decreased compared to control group. CONCLUSIONS As pre-eclampsia is associated with increased oxidative stress and decreased anti-oxidant status, the results of these investigations suggest that oxidative stress and antioxidant status are altered towards proatherogenic level in cord blood of pre-eclamptic women which may ultimately be responsible for different complications of newborn babies of pre-eclamptic mothers.