Changes in blood level of lipid peroxide and vitamin E during pregnancy: clinical significance and relation to the pathogenesis of EPH gestosis

The present study was undertaken in order to determine the changes in blood levels of lipid peroxide and vitamin E in EPH gestosis. The mean plasma level of lipid peroxide was 0.89 +/- 0.13 nmol/ml for nonpregnant women, while for normal pregnant women it was 2.51 +/- 0.52 nmol/ml, and 4.10 +/- 0.72 nmol/ml for women with EPH gestosis. The mean plasma level of vitamin E was 6.7 +/- 1.0 micrograms/ml for nonpregnant women, while for normal pregnant women it was 14.5 +/- 2.2 micrograms/ml and 12.6 +/- 1.2 micrograms/ml for women with gestosis. The mean red cell level of vitamin E was 3.55 +/- 0.25 micrograms/ml packed red cells in nonpregnant women, while in normal pregnant women it was 2.56 +/- 0.34 micrograms/ml packed cells and 2.90 +/- 0.28 micrograms/ml packed cells for women with EPH gestosis. The mean platelet level of vitamin E was 99 +/- 25 micrograms/g protein for nonpregnant women, while in normal pregnant women it was 232 +/- 24 micrograms/ml protein and 205 +/- 32 micrograms/g protein for women with EPH gestosis. It was shown in this study that in EPH gestosis the plasma level of lipid peroxide increased while the levels of vitamin E which inhibited the formation of lipid peroxide decreased in plasma, red cells and platelets.