Abstract

Background- Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) includes Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) have been associated with pre-eclampsia. Nitroso-redox imbalance could be considered the causative element in pregnancy induced hypertension. Aim- To study the role of nitroso redox imbalance and antioxidants in Pregnancy induced hypertension. Methods- Pregnant females with and without hypertension were evaluated for Serum Nitric oxide(NOx), Serum Nitrothiol, Serum Total Thiol, Serum Superoxide dismutase(SOD), Serum uric acid and were compared. Results- Nitric oxide( NOx- Nitrite and nitrate ), thiol, superoxide dismutase levels were decreased while nitrothiol and uric acid levels were increased in cases as compared to control. Discussion- Superoxide dismutase(SOD) seems to be the initiating factor for oxidative stress in PIH. Due to upregulation of xanthine oxidase, there is increased generation of uric acid and also superoxides. So more and more SOD is used up for the dismutation of superoxide radicals. Superoxides scavenge more and more Nitric oxide towards formation of peroxynitrite radicals, thus decreasing NOË™ flux towards NOx. These peroxynitrite radicals react with thiol to form nitrothiol, thus decreasing thiol levels and increasing nitrothiol levels in PIH.

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