Pre-eclampsia and oxygenated free radicals

Preeclampsia, clinically defined by arterial hypertension, oedema and proteinuria is a frequently occurred complication of pregnancy. This disease seems to be linked to oxidative stress within placenta. The local accumulation of lipid peroxides, resulting from free radicals production increase altered prostacyclin/thromboxane synthesis. Increased production of lipid peroxides, thromboxane and/or cytokines triggered vascular and organic dysfunctions observed in preeclampsia. Changes in lipoprotein metabolism, namely increase in plasma very low density lipoproteins concentrations (VLDL) and oxidized low density lipoproteins (LDL) concentrations could participate to endothelial dysfunctions observed during preeclampsia.