Post-delivery oxidative stress in women with preeclampsia or IUGR

Aim: To compare oxidative stress in patients with preeclampsia (PE) or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) vs. normal pregnancy (controls) during 48 h after delivery. Study design: Women with singleton pregnancies were recruited immediately after delivery (gestational age > 26.0 weeks). Women with PE or IUGR were matched with healthy controls by age, BMI, gestational age and delivery mode. Venous blood samples and urine samples were tested for oxidative stress products 24 h and 48 h after delivery. Results: Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration 24 h after delivery was significantly higher in subjects with PE or IUGR (3.41 +/- 1.14 mu mol/L, n = 20) than in controls (2.91 +/- 0.82 mmol/L, n = 38) (P = 0.04). Urine iPF(2 alpha)- VI declined from 24 to 48 h after delivery significantly in controls (P = 0.006) and not in subjects with PE or IUGR (P = 0.71). Conclusion: Of the markers tested only MDA is indicating higher oxidative stress in women with PE/IUGR than in normal pregnancy and only at 24 h after delivery. No consistent pattern of change in the oxidative stress markers exists between 24-48 h after delivery.