Increased protein carbonyls as markers for oxidative stress in amniotic fluid of preeclamptic women at term

Kim, Byoung Jae; Park, Joong Shin

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To determine if the content of protein carbonyls in amniotic fluid is elevated in preeclamptic women at term.
METHODS
A case-control study was conducted to compare contents of protein carbonyls in term amniotic fluid (gestational age at amniocentesis > or = 37 wks) among women who were healthy pregnant, preeclamptic and chronic hypertensive. Protein carbonyls were measured by specific immunoassay. Nonparametric techniques were used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS
1) The median amniotic fluid protein carbonyl of preeclamptic women was significantly higher than that of normal pregnant women (median 0.663 nmol/mg, range 0.013-1.726 nmol/mg vs. median 0.395 nmol/mg, range 0.069-1.503 nmol/mg, p<.05). 2) There was no significant difference in the amniotic fluid protein carbonyl level between women with chronic hypertension and normal pregnant women (median 0.823 nmol/mg, range 0.064-1.575 nmol/mg vs. median 0.395 nmol/mg, range 0.069-1.503 nmol/mg, p=.14). 3) The median amniotic fluid protein carbonyl showed tendency to increase with severity of preeclampsia without reaching statistical significance (normal pregnancy, median 0.395 nmol/mg, range 0.069-1.503 nmol/mg; mild preeclampsia, median 0.663 nmol/mg, range 0.013-1.054 nmol/mg; severe preeclampsia, median 0.842 nmol/mg, 0.391-1.726 nmol/mg; p=.07). The median protein carbonyl in amniotic fluid of women with severe preeclampsia was significantly higher than that of normal pregnant women (median 0.842 nmol/mg, range 0.391-1.726 nmol/mg vs. median 0.395 nmol/mg, range 0.069-1.503 nmol/mg, p<.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The protein carbonyls increased in amniotic fluid of women with preeclampsia, but not chronic hypertension at term.