Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Cervical Mucus: A Potential Diagnostic Indicator for Pathological Conditions

The objectives of this study were to measure several oxidative stress parameters in cervical mucous with several pathological conditions. The parameters are myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and Advanced Oxidation Protein Products (AOPPs) levels. Seventy-six women with aged 20-45 years, who attend to Indonesian Cancer Association, Jakarta, Indonesia were enrolled in the study. Cervical mucus was taken from each patient, and after that, pap smear procedure is performed to determine the condition of each patient's cervix. According to the results of the pap smear, there are three cervical conditions, such as normal, mild chronic specific infection, chronic non-specific infection, and atypical cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS). A significant increase in MPO activity, H2O2, and AOPPs levels were observed in all group of patients, compared to normal patients. In conclusion, oxidative stress was involved in several pathological conditions in the uterine cervix, and the parameters measured in this study may be used as a marker in those conditions. Keywords: Cervix, Cervical Mucus, Oxidative Stress.