EVALUATION OF SERUM OXIDATIVE STRESS, VITAMIN B12 AND HOMOCYSTEINE LEVELS IN PRE-ECLAMPTIC PREGNANT WOMEN

Abstract

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a new onset pregnancy induced hypertensive disorder associated with proteinuria. Deleterious effect of hyperhomocysteinemia and subsequent oxidative stress may be one of the etiologies. Level of vitamin B12 may be of concern as it is metabolically closely related to homocysteine. Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate the levels of serum oxidative stress, vitamin B12 and homocysteine in pre-eclamptic women. Materials and methods: This cross sectional observational study was conducted in Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research, Kolkata. Plasma levels of homocysteine, vitamin B12 and Malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of oxidative stress were estimated in diagnosed 40 pre-eclamptic cases as well as in equal number of age matched pregnant control (group I) and non-pregnant control (group II). MDA was measured by Kei-Satoh’s method. Homocysteine and vitamin B12 were estimated by chemiluminescence. Results: A moderate increase of MDA observed in normal pregnancy where as this increase is marked in pre-eclampsia. On the other hand vitamin B12 as well as homocysteine level decline during normal pregnancy but in pre-eclampsia significant hyper-homocysteinemia seen in contrast to low vitamin B12 level. Conclusions: Increased oxidative stress, hyperhomocysteinemia and low vitamin B12 level may play a pivotal role in pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia. Clinical significance: As clinical alarm of pre-eclampsia is always very late, so estimation of these biochemical parameters as a screening test for early prediction can be of clinically valuable.