Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Preeclampsia is a disorder of pregnancy with increased maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. An imbalance between free radical induced lipid peroxidation and antioxidant system has been suggested as possible pathogenesis of preeclapsia. It has been shown correlation of some serum antioxidant agents (for example ceruloplasmin) with preeclampsia and its severity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate of this correlation.

Methods: In a analytic case-control study, in clinic and delivery unit of Mirza Koochak Khan university hospital, Tehran, we evaluated 90 pregnant women of 19-38 years old with gestational age higher than 20 weeks in two groups, case (preeclampsia) and control (healty mother). Case group was devided into two groups mild preeclampsia (n=30) and severe preeclampsia (n=30). Patients with preeclampsia (n=60) had either early (n=41) or late preeclampsia (n=19). Control group included 30 normotensive pregnant women. Serum Ceruroplasmin level was measured. Then relationship between this factor and preeclampsia was studied.

Results: The mean level of serum ceruloplasmin in women with severe preeclampsia (390.83mg/dl) and mild preeclampsia (319.43mg/dl) was higher than control group (212.7mg/dl). Likewise it was significantly higher in severe preeclampsia than mild (P<0.001) and higher in early (373.28mg/dl) than late preeclampsi (298.34mg/dl) (P<0.01).

Conclusions: Our data suggest that serum ceruroplasmin level may predict preeclampsia occurrance and its severity. Likewise antioxidant theryapy before the onset of preeclampsia in an attempt to decrease its frequency should be considered.