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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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the intraplatelet cyclic guanosine-3′,5′-monophosphate(cGMP) levels during normal pregnancy and preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnant women(n = 15), women with preeclampsia(n = 15), and nonpregnant, normotensive women(n = 15) were included. Intraplatelet cyclic guanosine-3′,5′-monophosphate levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Intraplatelet cGMP levels were significantly different among all groups(p < 0.02). The values were higher in normal pregnant women(mean 19.8 SD 2.6 fmol/105 platelets) in comparison to nonpregnant women(mean 7.6 SD 0.3 fmol/105 platelets; p = 0.001) and women with preeclampsia(mean 11.3 SD 1.8 fmol/105 platelets; p = 0.05). Plasma nitric oxide levels did not reveal differences between all groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study in a high-risk Andean population demonstrated that intraplatelet cyclic guanosine-3′,5′-monophosphate levels are decreased during preeclampsia compared to normal pregnancy, suggesting a lack in action of nitric oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the nitric oxide (NO) levels in the plasma and the placentas of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia and women without pre-eclampsia, and to determine the effect of high or low altitude of residence. Methods: NO was determined by chemoluminescence and group comparisons were performed. Results: Women with pre-eclampsia (n =63) had higher plasma NO levels (38.6±17.44 vs 30.6±12.44 µmol/L, P =0.004) and higher placental NO levels (38.5±17.0 vs 24.3±7.16 ng/mg protein, P <0.05) compared with women without pre-eclampsia. A similar trend was found when comparisons were made according to altitude of residence. NO levels were significantly higher in the plasma of pre-eclamptic women living at sea level (41.11±18.78 vs 28.96±9.57 µmol/L, P =0.003), and in the placentas of women living at high altitude (39.51±16.98 vs 21.91±6.64 ng/mg protein, P <0.0001). Conclusion: Women with pre-eclampsia had higher plasma and placental NO levels and the differences were associated with altitude of residence. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Pre-eclampsia is a common disorder of human pregnancy (about 7% of all pregnancies) in which the normal hemodynamic response to pregnancy is compromised. In 2009, we demonstrated that supplementation with CoQ10 reduces significantly the risk of developing pre-eclampsia in women at risk for the condition. From these women, placental and mitochondrial Q10 levels, in women receiving either placebo or 200 mg CoQ10 daily were measured. Results showed that before supplementation, at week 20 of pregnancy, plasma CoQ10 levels showed no difference between the control (0.134±0.05 umol/l) and supplemented (0.139±0.06 umol/l) groups. Interestingly, at delivery, placental tissue showed no differences in the placebo group between women with normal pregnancy and those with preeclampsia; while in the Q10 group, women with preeclampsia showed significantly higher placental levels (0.31±0.20 ug/mg of protein) compared to normal pregnant women (0.18±0.08 ug/mg of protein; p=0.005). However, mitochondrial levels of Q10 in placenta from pregnant women with preeclampsia receiving placebo did not show differences compared to those receiving CoQ supplementation (0.82±0.41 vs. 0.77±0.42 ug/mg of protein). These results suggest that in women with preeclampsia, although CoQ10 reduced preeclampsia and increased its content in placental tissue, it is not able to increase the mitocondrial levels of CoQ10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preeclampsia is a common (∼7% of all pregnancies) disorder of human 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 concentration of coenzyme Q10 in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia. Pregnant women (n = 18), women with preeclampsia (n = 12), and nonpregnant normotensive women (n = 22) were included. Plasma levels of coenzyme Q10 were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Plasma coenzyme Q10 levels were significantly higher in normal pregnant women (mean = 1.08, SEM = 0.08 umol/l; p < .005) in comparison to nonpregnant women (mean = 0.86, SEM = 0.16 umol/l) and women with preeclampsia (mean = 0.7, SEM = 0.03 umol/l; p < .0001). These results demonstrated that during preeclampsia there is a significant decrease in plasma levels of coenzyme Q10 compared to normal pregnant women, and compared to those who are not pregnant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]