Premium
Plasma and placental nitric oxide levels in women with and without pre‐eclampsia living at different altitudes
Author(s) -
Teran Enrique,
Chedraui Peter,
Vivero Sandra,
Villena Francisco,
Duchicela Fabian,
Nacevilla Luis
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2008.09.010
Subject(s) - medicine , eclampsia , nitric oxide , obstetrics , pregnancy , genetics , biology
Objective To investigate the nitric oxide (NO) levels in the plasma and the placentas of pregnant women with pre‐eclampsia and women without pre‐eclampsia, and to determine the effect of high or low altitude of residence. Methods NO was determined by chemoluminescence and group comparisons were performed. Results Women with pre‐eclampsia ( n = 63) had higher plasma NO levels (38.6 ± 17.44 vs 30.6 ± 12.44 µmol/L, P = 0.004) and higher placental NO levels (38.5 ± 17.0 vs 24.3 ± 7.16 ng/mg protein, P < 0.05) compared with women without pre‐eclampsia. A similar trend was found when comparisons were made according to altitude of residence. NO levels were significantly higher in the plasma of pre‐eclamptic women living at sea level (41.11 ±18.78 vs 28.96 ± 9.57 µmol/L, P = 0.003), and in the placentas of women living at high altitude (39.51 ± 16.98 vs 21.91 ± 6.64 ng/mg protein, P < 0.0001). Conclusion Women with pre‐eclampsia had higher plasma and placental NO levels and the differences were associated with altitude of residence.