Affiliations: Experimental Pharmacology and Cellular Metabolism
Unit, Biomedical Center, Central University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador | Hospital Gineco-Obstetrico Isidro Ayora, Quito,
Ecuador
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Enrique Teran, Biomedical Center,
Central University of Ecuador, P.O. Box 17-03-4716, Quito, Ecuador. Tel.: +593
2 3228454; Fax: +593 2 33412363; E-mail:
eteran@cbm.uce.edu.ec/e_teran_uce@yahoo.com
Abstract: Preeclampsia is a common (∼7% of all pregnancies) disorder of
pregnancy in which the normal hemodynamic response to pregnancy is compromised.
Despite many years of intensive research, the pathogenesis of preeclampsia is
still not fully understood. The objective of the present study was to
investigate the levels of coenzyme Q_{10}
(CoQ_{10}) in placental tissue compared to maternal and
umbilical cord levels both during normal pregnancy and in those complicated
with preeclampsia. Pregnant women (n=30) and women with preeclampsia (n=30)
were included. Maternal, newborn cord blood levels and placental content of
coenzyme Q_{10} were measured by high performance liquid
chromatography (HPLC). Plasma coenzyme Q_{10} levels were
significantly higher in normal pregnant women than in women with preeclampsia.
CoQ_{10} content in placenta from women with preeclampsia
(mean 0.28 SEM 0.11 nmol/mg protein) was significantly higher compared to
normal pregnancy (mean 0.09 SEM 0.01 nmol/mg protein; p=0.05). Levels of
CoQ_{10} in cord blood from normal pregnant women (mean 0.30
SEM 0.05μmol/l) were significantly lower than in preeclamptic women (mean
4.03 SEM 2.38μmol/l). In conclusion, these data indicate a possible
involvement of CoQ_{10} in preeclampsia that might bear deep
physiopathological significance and deserve to be further elucidated.
