Affiliations: Biomedical Center, Central University of Ecuador,
Quito, Ecuador | Institute of Biomedicine, Universidad Católica
Santiago de Guayaquil, Ecuador | Hospital Gineco-Obstétrico Enrique C. Sotomayor,
Guayaquil, Ecuador | Hospital Gineco-Obstétrico Isidro Ayora, Quito,
Ecuador
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Enrique Teran, P.O. Box 17-03-4716,
Biomedical Center, Central University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador. Tel.: +5932
3228454; Fax: +5932 3228455; E-mail: eteran@cbm.uce.edu.ec /
e_teran_uce@yahoo.com
Abstract: Background: Preeclampsia is a common disorder of pregnancy
exhibiting abnormal plasma and placental coenzyme Q_{10} (CoQ_{10}) levels
when compared to normal pregnancies. Objective: To evaluate CoQ_{10} levels both in plasma and
placenta among normal pregnant (n = 60) and preeclamptic (n = 63) primigravid
women and determine the effect of high or low altitude residency. Study design: CoQ_{10} was determined using High Performance
Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) technique and group comparisons were performed.
Results: Preeclamptic women living at high altitude displayed
significantly lower CoQ_{10} plasma levels (0.64 ± 0.23 vs. 0.82 ±
0.46 μmol/L, p = 0.05). No differences were found in CoQ_{10} plasma
levels among women living at sea level. Interestingly, plasma CoQ_{10} levels
at low altitude in normal pregnancies were significantly lower than high
altitude normal pregnancies. Compared to normal pregnancies, preeclamptic women
displayed higher placental CoQ_{10} content, which was only significant among
those living at sea level (0.120 ± 0.07 vs. 0.076 ± 0.04 ng/mg
protein, p < 0.005). Normal pregnant women living at high altitude displayed
higher placental CoQ_{10} content when compared to those residing at sea
level (p < 0.0005). Conclusion: Women suffering from preeclampsia (high or low
altitude) display high placental CoQ_{10} content, with significant low
plasma CoQ_{10} levels among those residing in high altitude. More research
is warranted to establish the cause-effect relationship between CoQ_{10}
levels and preeclampsia.
