Serum nitric oxide and glutathione levels in preeclamptic and normotensive women during labor

This study was performed on 38 preeclamptic women, including 26 severely preeclamptic and eclamptic cases, as well as 50 normotensive pregnant controls. Twenty cases in the preeclamptic group and 34 cases in the control group were in labor. Serum nitric oxide levels were measured as total nitrites after reduction of nitrates to nitrites, Among the control subjects, nitric oxide levels were significantly lower in the cases in labor when compared to those not in labor (p < 0.05), but glutathione levels were not significantly different (p > 0.05), Among the preeclamptic patients, although nitric oxide levels were not significantly different between the cases in and not in labor (p > 0.05), glutathione levels were significantly higher in the latter group (p < 0.05), Thus, in preeclamptic patients there might be a compensatory increase in nitric oxide production during labor in order to maintain the systemic circulation. Glutathione levels might also be systemic circulation, Glutathione levels might also be increased to compensate for the marked oxidative stress. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG. Basel.