Comparison of protein carbonyl and total plasma thiol concentrations in patients with complete hydatidiform mole with those in healthy pregnant women

Background. Normal pregnant women are known to have increased oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation (which can be estimated by protein carbonyl concentration) but offsetting antioxidant protection (of which plasma thiols are an important component). Aim. This study set out to compare levels of these markers in normal pregnant women and patients with complete hydatidiform mole (CHM). Methods. Blood was taken from 41 healthy pregnant women and 39 patients with CHM attending a university hospital, and protein carbonyl and thiol levels determined spectrophotometrically on plasma. Statistical analysis of the results was performed using Student's t-test and Pearson's correlation. Results. Patients with CHM were found to have significantly higher levels of protein carbonyls and lower (but non-significant) levels of thiols. Conclusion. The results may indicate oxidative stress as a feature of CHM.