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EO-PE, especially with abnormal UtA Doppler findings defines a placentation abnormality with higher perinatal adverse outcomes.

Background/Aims: To evaluate the incidence of placental abnormalities, cord plasma erythropoietin (EPO) levels and nucleated red blood cell (NRBC) counts, maternal and cord plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and nondiabetic controls. Methods: Twenty-two women with GDM, diagnosed according to the current criteria of the American Diabetes Association, were compared with 22 controls. Maternal and cord blood and placental samples were obtained from all pregnant women. Cord plasma EPO levels and NRBC counts, maternal and cord plasma MDA and VEGF levels were determined. Placental tissues were examined histologically. Results: Maternal and cord plasma levels of MDA and cord plasma EPO levels and NRBC counts were significantly higher in GDM pregnancies (p < 0.01). The presence of villous immaturity, chorangiosis and ischemia were significantly increased in the placentas of women with GDM (p < 0.05). The maternal and cord plasma levels of MDA increased (p = 0.007 and p = 0.001, respectively), whereas VEGF decreased (p = 0.046 and p = 0.001, respectively) with the presence of villous immaturity. Conclusion: The complex process of villous development and maturity might be influenced by the maternal and fetal oxidative and angiogenetic milieu. The placenta that shows abnormalities in angiogenesis and maturation may lead to fetal hypoxia and compromise.

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Preeclampsia is one of the most frequent complications of pregnancy, however, little is known about its etiology. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and paraoxonase (PON1) activity in women with either preeclampsia or normotensive (NT) pregnancy. The study groups included 41 pregnant women with preeclampsia and 33 normotensive pregnant women. In all patients maternal serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides (TGs) were measured using enzymatic methods. Serum PON1 activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were measured by spectrophotometric methods, and oxLDL was measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Serum concentrations of lipid parameters (TC, LDL, VLDL, and TGs) were significantly higher in preeclampsia compared with NT controls (p < 0.001, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, and p < 0.001, respectively). Serum concentrations of MDA and oxLDL were significantly higher, while PON1 activity was significantly lower in preeclampsia compared with NT controls (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). A positive correlation was detected between oxLDL and MDA (r = 0.876), and a negative correlation was detected between both MDA and oxLDL and PON1 (r = –0.837 and r = –0.759, respectively). Our data demonstrate that preeclampsia is associated with increased oxLDL and decreased PON1 activity. Elevated oxidative stress, oxLDL, dyslipidemia and decreased PON1 activities may cause vascular endothelial damage and contribute to the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.

The aim of the study is to investigate the plasma and placental levels of malondialdehyde, glutathione and superoxide dismutase in normotensive and pre-eclamptic pregnancies. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected before labour (35.3 +/- 1.1 and 34.2 +/- 3.4 weeks for normotensive and pre-eclamptic, respectively) and placental tissues was obtained after delivery from 34 pre-eclampsia and 33 normotensive pregnancies. The mean plasma and placental levels of malondialdehyde were significantly higher, glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels were significantly lower in pre-eclamptic compared with normotensive patients (P < 0.01). The plasma and placental levels of malondialdehyde significantly increased, glutathione and superoxide dismutase significantly decreased with the increments in diastolic blood pressure. As a conclusion maternal circulating and placental tissue levels of lipid peroxides increase whereas antioxidants decrease in pre-eclampsia. The magnitude of oxidative stress and antioxidant changes correlate well with diastolic blood pressure.