Circulating biomarkers of oxidative stress in complicated pregnancies

Increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reduced antioxidant activity may contribute to the development of complications in pregnancy. The present study discusses the possibility of LPO and antioxidant activity in both maternal and umbilical cord blood as an indicator of oxygen radical activity. For this aim, pregnancies with hypertension and pre-eclampsia, diabetes mellitus (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes mellitus), oligohydramnios and abruptio placentae, as well as a healthy control group, were subjected in the present study. Simultaneous determination of glutathione S-transferase (GST), selenium dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GPx), catalase (CAT) activities and thiobarbituric acid reactive-substances (TBARs) levels were carried out in maternal erythrocyte and plasma in the antenatal period (in the third trimester) and immediately after the delivery. The same oxidative stress-related parameters were determined in umbilical cord blood as well. Erythrocyte GST activity was significantly increased in insulin-dependent diabetic pregnancy (IDDP) when compared to the control (P