Increased oxidative stress in patients with hydatidiform mole.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the oxidative status and antioxidative status of plasma of patients with complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) and to compare these values with normal pregnancy.
METHOD: Thirty-eight patients with CHM and 31 healthy pregnant women were enrolled in the study. To determine the antioxidative status of plasma, total antioxidant potential (TAOP) was calculated, and to determine the oxidative status of plasma total peroxide levels were measured. The ratio of TAOP to total peroxide was accepted as an indicator of oxidative stress.
RESULTS: TAOP of plasma was significantly lower in patients with hydatidiform mole than in healthy pregnant women [mean (SD) values were 511.9 (105.8) and 571.7 (109.4) micromol Trolox equiv./L respectively (p <0.05)]. In contrast, mean (SD) total peroxide level of plasma was significantly higher in the patients [21.8 (6.4) micromol H2O2/L] than in healthy pregnant women [15.6 (6.4) micromol H2O2/L (p <0.001)]. The mean oxidative stress index level was significantly higher in patients with CHM than in healthy pregnant women [4.43 (1.70) versus 2.92 (1.50) respectively (p <0.001)].
CONCLUSION: Patients with CHM are exposed to oxidative stress, which may have a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Supplementation with antioxidative vitamins such as C and E could be considered in treatment.