Product of Free Radical Injury and Antioxidant Status of Newly Diagnosed HIV Sero-positive Pregnant Women Seen in Osogbo, Nigeria
Adeniran Samuel Atiba
Department Chemical Pathology, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Patric Temi Adegun
Department of Surgery, Urology Division, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Daniel Adebode Adekanle *
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria.
Babatunde Moses Duduyemi
Department of Anatomic Pathology, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Rasaq Akintunde Akindele
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: The presence of HIV and pregnancy is a double insult on the health of mothers. Both of these have been associated with free radical injury. The aim was to determine levels of malondialdehyde and antioxidants of newly diagnosed HIV sero-positive pregnant women.
Place and Duration of the Study: This study was carried out in pregnancy booking clinic of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria. The study was carried out between June and December in 2011.
Methodology: Thirty nine HIV sero-positives pregnant, 58 HIV sero-negative pregnant and 56 HIV sero-negative non pregnant women were recruited into the study. Malondialdehyde, antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) and antioxidants vitamins (vitamins C and E) were analyzed accordingly from plasma and haemolysate prepared from subjects and controls.
Results: Highest and lowest plasma levels of malondialdehyde/µmol/l were found in HIV sero-positive pregnant women (5.93±0.57) and HIV sero-negative non pregnant women (0.95±0.62) respectively. Lowest levels of all the antioxidants were observed in HIV sero-positive pregnant women while highest level was found in HIV sero-negative non pregnant women. However, the differences were only statistically significant with Vitamin E and glutathione peroxidase when compared (p<0.05).
Conclusion: We conclude that Human immunodeficiency virus sero-positive pregnant women experience more free radical injury than those with HIV sero-negative pregnant women.
Keywords: Free radical, antioxidant, oxidative stress, human immunodeficiency virus, malondialdehyde