DNA damage and oxidative stress in patients with mild preeclampsia and offspring

Oxidative stress has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia, and DNA damage frequently occurs in cells exposed to such stress. The aim of the present study was to investigate DNA damage and oxidative stress in mildly pre-eclamptic women and their offspring.

We studied 25 mildly pre-eclamptic mothers, 20 healthy controls, and their infants. Mononuclear leukocyte DNA damage, total antioxidant status (TAS), and total oxidant status (TOS) were determined and the oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated.

DNA damage, and TOS and OSI levels were significantly increased, and TAS levels significantly decreased, in maternal and cord blood samples of the mildly pre-eclamptic group. A positive correlation between the extent of DNA damage and diastolic blood pressure was evident in pre-eclamptic mothers and there was a negative correlation between the extent of DNA damage and TOS.

Both oxidative stress and DNA damage are elevated in mildly pre-eclamptic patients and their offspring. Increased oxidative stress may be important in inducing DNA damage in pre-eclamptic patients.