Products of lipid degradation and intrauterine growth restriction

The role of free radicals in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in pregnancy was investigated. Four parameters of cell membrane destruction were measured: malonyldialdehyde, Schiff bases, lipid peroxides, and conjugated dienes. Pregnant women were under medical care at the Medical University, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Lodz in 1997-98. Three groups of patients were examined: I, healthy pregnant women, II, pregnant women with clinical and ultrasonographic diagnosis of IUGR without previous treatment, and III, women after pharmacological treatment. The course of treatment was 10 days of intravenous injections of cocarboxylase, vitamin C and solcoseryl, as antioxidant factors. The results showed that, in all cases of IUGR in pregnancy, the malonyldialdehyde mean level was higher (2.13 and 1.66)than in normal pregnancy (1.5; p<0.05). Conjugated dienes in groups II and III were higher(2.49 and 2.26)than in normal pregnancy (2.21; p < 0.05). The Schiff bases level was low (6.8 AU) in group I, and significantly higher (7.62 and 7.34) in groups II and III, respectively (p < 0.05). Lipid peroxide levels in group II were higher than in group I (0.11; p<0.05). IUGR was correlated with the increase of membrane damage parameters. The malonyldialdehyde and lipid peroxide levels were significantly increased in this state. Therapeutic methods decreased the concentration of malonyldialdehyde and lipid peroxides.