Product of Free Radical Injury and Antioxidant Status of Newly Diagnosed HIV Sero-positive Pregnant Women Seen in Osogbo, Nigeria

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.