OBJECTIVE: To measure auto-antibodies against oxidatively modified low density lipoprotein (LDL) in pre-eclamptic pregnancies using two different techniques. DESIGN: Clinical study comparing pre-eclamptic and normal pregnancies. SETTING: Tampere University Hospital, Finland. POPULATION: Twenty-one primigravidae with pre-eclampsia and 13 healthy, normotensive primigravidae as controls. METHODS: The serum titers of antibodies against both malondialdehyde-modified and copper-oxidised LDL (MDA-LDL and copper-ox LDL) were analysed and related to parameters reflecting the severity of pre-eclampsia. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation (r = 0.58) between antibodies against MDA-LDL and copper-ox LDL in women with pre-eclampsia but not in healthy pregnant controls. The antibody levels against copper-ox LDL, but not against MDA-LDL, were higher in women with pre-eclampsia than in women with a normal pregnancy (P < 0.01). While the antibody titers against copper-ox LDL did not correlate with any parameter reflecting the severity of pre-eclampsia, those against MDA-LDL showed a positive correlation with the level of diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.54) and a negative correlation with platelet count (r = -0.61) in women with pre-eclampsia. CONCLUSION: There are increased titers of serum autoantibodies against copper-oxidised LDL in pre-eclampsia, which may reflect enhanced lipid peroxidation involving circulating lipoproteins.
OBJECTIVE: To measure auto-antibodies against oxidatively modified low density lipoprotein (LDL) in pre-eclamptic pregnancies using two different techniques. DESIGN: Clinical study comparing pre-eclamptic and normal pregnancies. SETTING: Tampere University Hospital, Finland. POPULATION: Twenty-one primigravidae with pre-eclampsia and 13 healthy, normotensive primigravidae as controls. METHODS: The serum titers of antibodies against both malondialdehyde-modified and copper-oxidised LDL (MDA-LDL and copper-ox LDL) were analysed and related to parameters reflecting the severity of pre-eclampsia. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation (r = 0.58) between antibodies against MDA-LDL and copper-ox LDL in women with pre-eclampsia but not in healthy pregnant controls. The antibody levels against copper-ox LDL, but not against MDA-LDL, were higher in women with pre-eclampsia than in women with a normal pregnancy (P < 0.01). While the antibody titers against copper-ox LDL did not correlate with any parameter reflecting the severity of pre-eclampsia, those against MDA-LDL showed a positive correlation with the level of diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.54) and a negative correlation with platelet count (r = -0.61) in women with pre-eclampsia. CONCLUSION: There are increased titers of serum autoantibodies against copper-oxidised LDL in pre-eclampsia, which may reflect enhanced lipid peroxidation involving circulating lipoproteins.