[Advanced oxidation protein products in pregnancy].

OBJECTIVE

Pregnancy and mainly its complications are associated with increased oxidative stress. Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) can serve as one of its markers.

SETTING

First Institute of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry and Institute for Clinical Biochemistry, First Medical Faculty, Charles University; Institute for Care of Mother and Child, Prague.

METHODS

Together with parameters of prenatal screening, AOPP were measured in the serum of 23 pregnant women in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. A group of healthy blood donors--women and men was used for comparison. AOPP were determined spectrophotometrically according to Witko-Sarsat (absorbance at 340 nm) and are expressed in chloramin units (mumol/l).

RESULTS

Serum AOPP concentrations in pregnant women are significantly higher in comparison with blood donors--women (85.90 +/- 18.70 mumol/l vs 57.34 +/- 16.31 mumol/l, P < 0.0001) but there is no statistically significant difference between pregnant women and blood donors--men (85.90 +/- 18.70 mumol/l vs 78.60 +/- 44.01 mumol/l). AOPP level does not correlate either with the age of pregnant women or with the parameters of prenatal screening (human chorionic gonadotrophin--HCG, alpha-1-fetoprotein--AFP and trophoblast-specific--beta-1-glycoproteion--SP1).

CONCLUSION

AOPP as a marker of oxidative stress is increased in the serum of pregnant women in comparison with women--blood donors but is similar as in men--blood donors which supports the hypothesis of hormonal influence. Nevertheless, AOPP do not correlate with the parameters of prenatal screening (HCG, AFP and SP1).