Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Objective</jats:title><jats:p>To examine placental malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels in four placental regions among women with and without pre‐eclampsia.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>A cross‐sectional study was conducted among women aged 18–35 years with a singleton pregnancy in Pune, India, between May 3, 2013, and June 16, 2014. Three groups were enrolled: normotensive; pre‐eclampsia, delivered at term; and pre‐eclampsia, delivered preterm. Samples were collected from the central and peripheral placental regions (maternal and fetal sides) immediately after delivery.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>A total of 60 women were enrolled (35 normotensive; 11 with pre‐eclampsia delivered at term; 14 with pre‐eclampsia, delivered preterm). MDA levels were higher in all regions of the placenta among the pre‐eclampsia versus normotensive groups (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> < 0.01). MDA levels were higher in the central maternal region than in the central fetal region in the preterm pre‐eclampsia group (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.023). The MDA levels in the central maternal region were also higher in the preterm than in the term pre‐eclampsia group (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.014). Catalase activity was lower in the peripheral maternal (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.036) and fetal (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.050) regions in the preterm pre‐eclampsia group versus the normotensive group. The activity of GPx was higher in the peripheral maternal region than in the central fetal region in the normotensive group (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.033).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>Pre‐eclampsia might be characterized by differential placental oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activity.</jats:p></jats:sec>