Oxidative stress in preeclamptic mother–newborn dyads and its correlation with early neonatal outcome–a case control study

Background: Preeclamptic mothers are likely to have increased oxidative stress during pregnancy which can adversely affect the outcome in their neonates. Objectives: To measure the oxidative stress in preeclamptic mother- newborn dyads and correlate it with the immediate neonatal outcome. Methods: This case control study conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital, South India included 71 preeclamptic mothers–newborn dyads (cases) and 72 normal mothers–newborn dyads (controls). Biochemical parameters including total antioxidant status (TAS), protein carbonyls and malondialdehyde levels (MDA) were measured in both maternal and cord blood. Association between these oxidative stress parameters and early neonatal outcome was studied. Results: All oxidative stress markers were higher in the preeclampsia group compared to the controls. Cord blood protein carbonyl levels had significant correlation with maternal levels. Prematurity, low-birth weight, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), early onset sepsis (EOS) and intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) were more among cases. Early neonatal outcomes like death, IUGR, EOS, and RDS had significant correlation with protein carbonyl levels among the cases. Conclusions: Oxidative stress is increased in preeclamptic mother–newborn dyads. Increased protein carbonyl levels in preeclampsia correlate with adverse early neonatal outcome.