Increased Reactive Oxygen Species and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Production by Monocytes are Associated with Elevated Levels of Uric Acid in Pre-Eclamptic Women

Problem To evaluate associations between hyperuricemia and increases in production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in pre-eclamptic pregnancies. Method of study This study investigated serum uric acid levels, monocyte production of TNF-alpha, superoxide anion (O-2(-)) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in erythrocytes from 30 women with pre-eclampsia (PE) compared with 30 normotensive (NT) pregnant women in the last trimester of pregnancy. Results Serum uric acid levels (6.1 versus 2.8 mg/dL) as well as endogenous O-2(-) (2.2 versus 1.6 nm), H2O2 (1.8 versus 1.4 nm) and TNF-alpha (91.6 versus 40.4 pg/mL) released from monocytes were significantly higher in the pre-eclamptic group than in the NT group (P < 0.05). SOD activity in erythrocytes was also significantly elevated in the PE group (5969.2 versus 4834.7 U/g Hb). No significant difference between groups was observed in relation to CAT activity. Conclusions Elevated serum uric acid levels are correlated with higher O-2(-) and TNF-alpha production by monocytes in women with PE. This may contribute to the enhanced oxidative and inflammatory state characteristic of this disorder.