Assessment of oxidative stress-induced cellular damage in preeclamptic females

Abstract

Introduction Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy characterized by the development of hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation. Oxidative stress, arising from an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant defenses, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Methods This study aimed to assess oxidative stress-induced cellular damage in preeclamptic females through the evaluation of oxidative stress biomarkers and their association with disease severity. Blood samples were collected from preeclamptic females and normotensive pregnant controls matched for gestational age. Routine biochemical investigations, including serum uric acid and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, were measured. Results The results revealed significantly elevated levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in preeclamptic females compared to normotensive controls. Serum LDH levels were significantly increased in preeclampsia, and with the severity of the disease, the levels were higher. Serum LDH levels showed a significant correlation with serum uric acid levels. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between oxidative stress parameters and disease severity, as indicated by blood pressure levels, transaminases, and proteinuria. Discussion These findings underscore the importance of oxidative stress-induced cellular damage in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia and highlight the potential utility of oxidative stress biomarkers as diagnostic and prognostic indicators in this hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms linking oxidative stress to preeclampsia and explore novel therapeutic strategies targeting oxidative stress pathways in the management.