Oxidant stress in pre-eclampsia and essential hypertension

Endothelial cell dysfunction may play a role in the pathobiology of pre-eclampsia and human essential hypertension. Vasodilators and platelet anti-aggregators such as prostacyclin and nitric oxide are produced by endothelial cells. The half-life of prostacyclin and nitric oxide are reduced by superoxide anion, whereas superoxide dismutase antagonizes its action. To estimate the plasma concentrations of nitric oxide and lipid peroxides and those of catalase and superoxide dismutase in patients with pre-eclampsia and essential hypertension. Patients of essential hypertension and pre-eclampsia were selected for the study. Nitric oxide and lipid peroxides were estimated in the plasma and anti-oxidants catalase and superoxide dismutase were estimated in the RBC membranes. The ratio between lipid peroxides and nitric oxide was elevated and the activity of superoxide dismutase reduced in patients with pre-eclampsia and uncontrolled essential hypertension. These results suggest that oxidant...