Vitoratos N, Salamalekis E, Dalamaga N, Kassanos D, Creatsas G
2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology University of Athens, Areteion Hospital, Greece.
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1999 May;84(1):63-7. doi: 10.1016/s0301-2115(98)00261-9.
The aim of this study was to investigate the role of serum ceruloplasmin, its ferroxidase activity and total iron binding capacity in women with pre-eclampsia.
Thirty primigravidas between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation were studied. The subjects were divided into two groups: group A consisted of 15 normal pregnancies with a mean gestational age of 33.9 weeks, and group B consisted of 15 pre-eclamptics with a mean gestational age of 32.8 weeks.
The pre-eclamptics presented significantly higher serum ceruloplasmin levels compared to those with normal pregnancies (P<0.01), while the mean ferroxidase activity levels of ceruloplasmin did not differ significantly between the two groups (450.13+/-110.88 and 467.26+/-135.35 micromol/l/min in groups A and B, respectively). The mean+/-S.D. serum iron level (104.48+/-39.81 microg/dl) was greater whereas the total iron binding capacity (55.59+/-8.47 micromol/l) was lower in women with preeclampsia when compared to normal pregnancies (P<0.01 and P<0.0001 respectively).
Our results indicate that the plasma of pre-eclamptic women shows a loss of ferroxidase activity of ceruloplasmin as well as a reduction of total iron binding capacity. Thus, it seems that the plasma of pre-eclamptic women lacks the protective anti-oxidative action of these substances.
