Aim: To compare oxidative stress in patients with preeclampsia (PE) or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) vs. normal pregnancy (controls) during 48h after delivery. Study design: Women with singleton pregnancies were recruited immediately after delivery (gestational age >26.0weeks). Women with PE or IUGR were matched with healthy controls by age, BMI, gestational age and delivery mode. Venous blood samples and urine samples were tested for oxidative stress products 24h and 48h after delivery. Results: Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration 24h after delivery was significantly higher in subjects with PE or IUGR (3.41±1.14μmol/L, n=20) than in controls (2.91±0.82μmol/L, n=38) (P=0.04). Urine iPF2α-VI declined from 24 to 48h after delivery significantly in controls (P=0.006) and not in subjects with PE or IUGR (P=0.71). Conclusion: Of the markers tested only MDA is indicating higher oxidative stress in women with PE/IUGR than in normal pregnancy and only at 24h after delivery. No consistent pattern of change in the oxidative stress markers exists between 24-48h after deliver
