Pregnancy and Oxidative Stress

Abstract

Pre-eclampsia is a relatively common complication of pregnancy, interesting about a 3% of the pregnancies. Its pathogenesis has been not yet completely clarified. However, a maternal endothelial dysfunction, particularly at the placenta level, seem to be the key factor in the development of this disease that clinically involves many organs such as kidney, brain and liver, characterized by hypertension, proteinuria and oedema. Recent works suggest a pathogenetic role of an altered expression of placental anti-angiogenic factors with consequent modifications in the redox state resulting in an oxidative stress. The effects to these anti-angiogenic factors results in a systemic endothelial dysfunction with hypertension, proteinuria, and the other systemic manifestations, such as encelophalopathy. Here, we will describe the most recent insights into the pathophysiology of preeclampsia attempting to provide a unifying hypothesis to reconcile the abnormalities at the feto-placental level and the clinical features of the maternal syndrome and provide a rationale for potential future prophylactic and therapeutic interventions for this pregnancy complication.