تغيرات قيم كارنتين البلازما عند السيدات الحوامل المصابات بما قبل الارتعاج

Background& Objective: Preeclampsia is associated with abnormal lipid metabolism, including fatty acid metabolism. Carnitine plays an indispensable role in the oxidation of fatty acids. The aim of the study was to evaluate the possible role of abnormal fatty acid oxidation in preeclampsia by comparing plasma carnitine levels between preeclamptic and healthy control pregnant women. Materials & Methods: Plasma concentrations of free carnitine is investigated with electrospray spectrometry in pregnant women with preeclampsia (n = 50) and in normotensive healthy pregnant control subjects (n = 50). Excluded were multiple pregnancies and women with preexistent hypertension, diabetes, renal dysfunction, immune disease, and intrauterine fetal death. Control subjects were healthy pregnant women without hypertension or proteinuria. Results: The results revealed that, plasma carnitines concentration were significantly increased (P <0.001) in the preeclamptic group. carnitine values were increased by approximately 243% compared with the control group. carnitines concentration correlated to diastolic blood pressure and proteinuria whereas no relationship could be demonstrated between carnitine concentrations and systolic blood pressure. Conclusion: The considerable increased plasma carnitine concentrations, support the role of abnormal lipid metabolism in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. It is suggested that toxic metabolites resulting from abnormal fatty acid oxidation in the placenta contribute to the endothelial dysfunction of preeclampsia.