Blood selenium and glutathione peroxidases in miscarriage.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the selenium glutathione and glutathione peroxidase (glutathione-Px) levels in blood in women who experience miscarriage. DESIGN: An observational study. PARTICIPANTS: Forty women with miscarriage occurring in the first and second trimesters. METHODS: Concentrations were measured in whole blood and plasma. Glutathione was measured in red cells and glutathione-Px activity was measured in the red cells and plasma. The results were compared with 36 women in the same period of viable pregnancy and 28 age-matched, healthy, non-pregnant controls. RESULTS: The selenium concentrations in whole blood and plasma of women following abortion were the same as in viable pregnancy, but were significantly lower compared with controls. The glutathione levels were significantly higher in women with miscarriage compared with viable pregnancies and with non-pregnant women. Red cell and plasma glutathione-Px activities of women who had had a miscarriage were significantly lower than in both normal pregnancies and the control group. CONCLUSION: The decreased activities of the antioxidant enzymes, red cell and plasma glutathione-Px, may play an important role in the aetrology of spontaneous abortion.

Decreased selenium concentration in maternal and cord blood in preterm compared with term delivery.

The Se concentration in maternal and cord whole blood and plasma was determined spectrofluorimetrically in: (1) 42 women at term and (2) 46 at preterm parturients, and in the placenta. The glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was measured in red cells and plasma in maternal and cord blood of both groups. The Se concentrations and GSH-Px activities of the above-mentioned groups were compared with those of non-pregnant women. Whole blood and plasma Se concentration of parturients at term did not differ significantly from those of non-pregnant women (72.3 versus 80.3 ng ml-1 whole blood and 48.7 versus 56.2 ng ml-1 plasma). In preterm parturients, however, Se concentrations were significantly lower (61.1 ng ml-1 whole blood and 39.2 ng ml-1 plasma) when compared with term parturients. The Se levels in cord blood and plasma were similar to their mothers' Se concentrations. No difference was observed in placenta Se levels (130 ng g-1 wet weight in both groups). The same was true for glutathione (GSH): the concentration in maternal and cord blood of term and preterm parturients did not differ and varied from 2.43 to 2.50 mmol l-1 red cells. Red cell GSH-Px activities were similar in maternal and cord blood of both term and preterm groups and ranged from 14.3 to 15.7 U g-1 Hb. The plasma enzyme activity in the maternal blood of preterm parturients was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that of mothers at term delivery. The GSH-Px activity in the plasma of cord blood was significantly (p < 0.001) lower in the preterm than in the term group. It is suggested that low Se levels in the blood of women at preterm delivery, as shown here, may be one of the causes of retinopathy and respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants.