Comparative study of lactoferrin and other blood markers of inflammatory stress between preeclamptic and normal pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE

To test lactoferrin as a blood discriminator of neutrophil activation between normal and preeclamptic pregnancy.

DESIGN

Comparative study between normal (n = 40) and preeclamptic women receiving treatment (n = 42) in the third trimester of pregnancy and in the post partum period (30 women with normal pregnancy and 22 with preeclampsia).

METHODS

Blood, serum or plasma measurements of neutrophils, lactoferrin, vitamin C, vitamin E, lipid peroxidation products, elastase, C-reactive protein (CRP), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma GT), haptoglobin, osmotic fragility, urea, creatinine, uric acid, transaminases (ASAT, ALAT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), platelets, red and white blood cells.

RESULTS

In preeclamptic women the ratios of lactoferrin per neutrophil or per erythrocyte are higher before delivery than in normal women but decrease after delivery. Delivery induces a greater inflammatory response in normal pregnancy as detected by blood concentrations of inflammatory markers and hepatic and renal parameters.

CONCLUSION

Whereas in normal pregnant women neutrophil activation increases with delivery, in preeclamptic women the opposite occurs.