Oxidative stress and immunological alteration in women with preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVES: To determine plasma concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and of inflammatory markers in women with preeclampsia. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted on 50 preeclamptic and 50 healthy pregnant women. The concentrations of MDA were determined by the method of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Markers of inflammation were determined by the multiplex method. RESULTS: The concentrations of MDA did not differ between groups (p > 0.05) and the preeclampsia group had significantly higher IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and IL-6/IL-10 ratio, compared to those with normal pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The MDA is a nonspecific marker for oxidative stress in preeclampsia, and the gestantes with preeclampsia have immune dysfunction.