Short Communication - Effect of Early Spontaneous Abortions on Reactive Oxygen Species, Antioxidants and Lipid Damage in Women

ABSTRACT In pregnancy, any disturbance in the balance between antioxidants and oxidants in favor of the later can cause serious problems such as abortion. So the investigation of the oxidants/antioxidants status during early stages of pregnancy is urgently needed to help us solving such health issues. In this current study, One hundred and thirteen aborted women (73 known causes group, 40 unknown group) and control group (23 normal delivery women (control positive), 10 normal unmarried women (control negative) were recruited in this study. Levels of lipid peroxidation (MDA level), catalase activity (CAT), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured in the serum of all studied groups. MDA levels were significantly higher (p≤0.05) in aborted women with T. gondii compared to negative control. MDA levels were also significantly higher (p≤0.05) among aborted women with Cytomegalo virus compared to negative and positive control groups. All aborted women had significantly higher levels of TAC levels (p≤0.05) compared to the control groups. However, catalase activity and ROS levels in all the aborted women did not differ statistically from that of control. Our data indicated that the aborted women had increased the level of serum oxidative stress (MDA) and this elevation may be driving the detrimental effects induced by parasitic or vial infections.