Hyperemesis gravidarum (HEG), associated with pregnancy, is a severe form of nausea and vomiting causing decrease in nutrient antioxidants. Hence, we hypothesize that oxidation injury may be involved in the pathogenesis of HEG. Plasma levels of the ubiquitous antioxidant, reduced glutathione (GSH) may serve as a sensitive measure for systemic oxidative stress. Women with pregnancies complicated by HEG (study group) were compared with pregnant women without HEG (pregnant control group) and with healthy nonpregnant women (nonpregnant control group). Plasma GSH levels were determined in the study group at the time of admission to hospital, and when the vomiting had ceased, it was compared with those of the two control groups. Plasma GSH levels were significantly higher in the pregnant control group than in nonpregnant controls (6.13 +/- 2.9 microM vs. 1.01 +/- 0.3 microM p <0.01). In contrast, values in the HEG women at the time of admission were significantly lower than the pregnant controls (3.12 +/- 1.6 microM, p <0.01). At the second sampling, when the women had ceased vomiting, plasma GSH values were higher than at the acute stage of the illness and were no longer significantly different from the pregnant control group (4.43 +/- 1.6 microM). Low values of plasma GSH in HEG patients suggest that oxidative stress is associated with this condition.
Background. Offspring exposed to pre‐eclampsia in utero had higher systolic blood pressure, and were more obese during adolescence. We hypothesized that metabolic changes, a marker of cardiovascular disease, may be affected by intrauterine exposure to pre‐eclampsia. Methods. Blood samples were collected from cord blood of 36 newborns who were exposed to pre‐eclampsia in utero and their mothers, and of 35 newborns and their mothers with noncomplicated pregnancies. Serum levels of lipids, homocysteine, and fibrinogen were determined in all samples. Results. Fetuses exposed to pre‐eclampsia in utero had lower birth weight, smaller abdominal circumference (p<0.002; p<0.03 respectively) and higher levels of low‐density lipoprotein, homocysteine, and fibrinogen (p<0.01; p<0.001; p<0.001, respectively), compared with fetuses of normotensive, pregnancies. A significant correlation existed between maternal homocysteine concentration and that of newborn infants (r = 0.539; p<0.001) and between maternal low‐density lipoprotein and newborn homocysteine (r = 0.36; p<0.03). Significant negative correlations were found between abdominal circumference of newborns and cord blood concentration of fibrinogen (r = − 0.52; p<0.001) and low‐density lipoprotein (r = − 0.42; p<0.001). Maternal plasma homocysteine, low‐density lipoprotein, and triglyceride were significantly higher, while high‐density lipoprotein was significantly lower in pregnancies with pre‐eclampsia as compared with the uncomplicated pregnancy group (p<0.001 for all). Cord blood level of low‐density lipoprotein and fibrinogen were best predicted by abdominal circumference of newborn, though maternal level of homocysteine was the most powerful independent predictor of cord homocysteine. Conclusion. Intrauterine exposure to pre‐eclampsia was associated with untoward effects on biochemical risk factor markers for cardiovascular disease. Our findings suggest that the cardiovascular risk of newborns of pre‐eclamptic mothers may begin in utero.
Gestational sac and amniotic sac volumes show excellent correlation with the GA and CRL and hence may be used for determining the GA. Larger studies are needed to determine the importance of these volumes in predicting normal pregnancy outcomes and whether these volumes can be used in the management of pregnancies at risk for abortion.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.