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Blood selenium and glutathione peroxidases in miscarriage

  1. Bronisław A. Zachara1,
  2. Waldemar Dobrzyński2,
  3. Urszula Trafikowska1,
  4. Wiesław Szymański2

Article first published online: 22 DEC 2003

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2001.00030.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 108, Issue 3, pages 244–247, March 2001

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How to Cite

Zachara, B. A., Dobrzyński, W., Trafikowska, U. and Szymański, W. (2001), Blood selenium and glutathione peroxidases in miscarriage. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 108: 244–247. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2001.00030.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Biochemistry, The Ludwik Rydygier Medical University, Bydgoszcz, Poland

  2. 2

    Depertment of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The Ludwik Rydygier Medical University, Bydgoszcz, Poland

**Professor B. A. Zachara, Department of Biochemistry, The Ludwik Rydygier Medical University, Bydgoszcz, Poland

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 DEC 2003
  2. Article first published online: 22 DEC 2003
  3. Accepted 22 September 2000

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Objective To investigate the selenium glutathione and glutathione peroxidase (glutathione-Px) levels in blood in women who experience miscarriage.

Design An observational study.

Participants Forty women with miscarriage occurring in the first and second trimesters.

Methods Concentrations were measured in whole blood and plasma. Glutathione was measured in red cells and glutathione-Px activity was measured in the red cells and plasma. The results were compared with 36 women in the same period of viable pregnancy and 28 age-matched, healthy, non-pregnant controls.

Results The selenium concentrations in whole blood and plasma of women following abortion were the same as in viable pregnancy, but were significantly lower compared with controls. The glutathione levels were significantly higher in women with miscarriage compared with viable pregnancies and with non-pregnant women. Red cell and plasma glutathione-Px activities of women who had had a miscarriage were significantly lower than in both normal pregnancies and the control group.

Conclusion The decreased activities of the antioxidant enzymes, red cell and plasma glutathione-Px, may play an important role in the aetrology of spontaneous abortion.

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