Is there a role for isofurans and neuroprostanes in pre-eclampsia and normal pregnancy?

Pre-eclampsia is a complex disorder of pregnancy that adversely affects the mother and baby. Arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are essential for fetal development and can undergo free radical oxidation to F(2)-isoprostanes (F(2)-IsoPs) and isofurans (IsoFs); and F(4)-neuroprostanes (F(4)-NeuroPs), respectively. These metabolites may be relevant to pre-eclampsia and fetal development. We examined IsoFs, F(4)-NeuroPs, and F(2)-IsoPs in maternal plasma and cord blood plasma of 23 women with pre-eclampsia and 21 normal pregnancies. Women with pre-eclampsia had significantly elevated maternal IsoFs and F(4)-NeuroPs, but not F(2)-IsoPs. Cord blood F(4)-NeuroPs were elevated among neonates of women with pre-eclampsia. In women with pre-eclampsia, birth weight was predicted by gestation at delivery. The latter was also true in normal pregnancy, but birth weight was negatively related to maternal F(2)-IsoPs, IsoFs, and F(4)-NeuroPs. We have shown that in women with pre-eclampsia, IsoFs and F(4)-NeuroPs are elevated, and cord blood F(4)-NeuroPs are increased. The inverse relationship between maternal F(2)-IsoPs, IsoFs, and F(4)-NeuroPs and birth weight may be relevant as predictors of low birth weight in normal pregnancy. Future studies should examine whether these markers in maternal blood at early stages of pregnancy relate to subsequent maternal, fetal, and neonatal complications.