Affiliations: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Polytechnic
University of the Marche, Ancona, Italy | Institute of Biochemistry, Polytechnic University of
the Marche, Ancona, Italy
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Gian Paolo Littarru, Institute of
Biochemistry, Polytechnic University of the Marche, Via Ranieri, Ancona, Italy.
E-mail: littarru@univpm.it
Abstract: Oxidative stress is considered a key factor in HELLP syndrome, a
severe complication of preeclampsia in pregnancy. In the present study we
analysed the content of Coenzyme Q_{10}
(CoQ_{10}), a fundamental component of the mitochondrial
respiratory chain and recognized lipophilic antioxidant, in placentas from
women affected by HELLP syndrome and compared them with the relative controls.
Twenty-eight patients with HELLP syndrome and twenty-eight
age-matched healthy pregnant controls were enrolled. Two aliquots of placental
tissue were taken immediately after delivery and placed into liquid nitrogen.
Thawed samples were homogenised by Ultra-Turrax; total protein and
CoQ_{10} concentration were thereafter analysed.
CoQ_{10} concentration was 0.162 ± 0.07μg/mg
protein in HELLP syndrome versus 0.87 ± 0.003μg/mg protein in controls,
the difference being highly significant. A positive correlation, within the
placentas from HELLP, was found between the weight of the new-born and
CoQ_{10}/protein ratio. A significant positive correlation
was also present between CoQ_{10}/protein ratio and Apgar at
1st and 5th minute as well as between CoQ_{10}/protein ratio
and the median cerebral artery pulsatility index. The increase in placental
CoQ_{10} in this syndrome might derive from a compensatory
mechanism in a situation of increased oxidative stress.
