Plasma Phosphatidylcholine Hydroperoxide in Diabetic Women during Pregnancy

Abstract

To clarify the cause of malformations in infants of diabetic mothers, we measured plasma phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide (PCOOH), as an index of oxidative stress, in 68 pregnant diabetic women by using chemiluminescense-high performance liquid chromatography (CLHPLC).
The average level of plasma PCOOH in 24 healthy non-pregnant controls was 368.2±114.1 pmol/ml. A significant increase in plasma PCOOH level was found in diabetic non-pregnant women when compared to healthy non-pregnant controls. In normal pregnant women, plasma PCOOH levels were significantly increased in the third trimester compared to normal non-pregnant women. There was a significant increase in plasma PCOOH level in the third trimester when compared to that in the first trimester in pregnant diabetics. No difference was found in the PCOOH levels in diabetic pregnant women compared to that in normal pregnant women during pregnancy. In the first trimester there was no difference in plasma PCOOH levels in diabetic pregnant women when compared to normal pregnant women and to healthy non-pregnant women. None of the infants born from the diabetic mothers examined had malformations. We were unable to find any relation between maternal PCOOH levels and malformations of infants of diabetic mothers.