Oxidative stress parameters in maternal and umbilical cord blood of pregnant women with gestational and pregestational diabetes mellitus

Introduction. Pregnancy complicated by diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with a high risk of adverse perinatal outcomes (prematurity, diabetic fetopathy). These complications are caused by chronic intrauterine fetal hypoxia associated with the enhancement of oxidative stress. Imbalance between reactive oxygen species production and the activity of the antioxidant system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of various DM types during pregnancy. Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate oxidative stress markers in pregnant women with pre-pregnancy DM (PGDM) type 1 or 2, with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and in the control group without hyperglycemia at 37-41 weeks of pregnancy; as well as to assess the severity of oxidative stress depending on the DM type. Materials and methods. 3-Nitrotyrosine and malondialdehyde levels, catalase and total antiradical activities were determined in the maternal and cord blood serum of 94 pregnant women. The serum concentration of 3-nitrotyrosine was measured using the ELISA method; malondialdehyde level, catalase activity, and antiradical activity were measured by colorimetric methods. Results. Increased 3-nitrotyrosine and malondialdehyde levels were observed in the PGDM group compared to the other study groups (GDM and control groups). Total antiradical activity increased in the PGDM and GDM groups, catalase activity not changing in all the study groups. Conclusions. DM during pregnancy is associated with the enhancement of oxidative stress, which can lead to the development of adverse perinatal outcomes. Moreover, patients with PGDM showed activation of oxidative stress that was more pronounced compared to the control group and the group of patients with GDM.