Aim: Objective of this study was to investigate the lipid peroxidation and non-enzymatic antioxidants status in women with preeclampsia and compare the same parameters in women with normal pregnancy and postpartum preeclampsia women.

Settings and Design: District civil hospital, Case control study.

Methods and Material: The study comprised of 25 normal healthy non pregnant controls, 25 normal healthy pregnant women in 3rd trimester and 25 preeclamptic women in 2nd trimester. The same 2nd trimester preeclamptic women were used for follow up study after delivery and were considered as postpartum preeclamptic group. Whole blood was used to detect Malondialdehyde (MDA) a product of lipid peroxide, non- enzymatic antioxidants like reduced glutathione, vitamin E, vitamin-C and vitamin-A. Statistical significance was determined by ANOVA and multiple comparison tests.

Results: There was a consistent significant increase in lipid peroxidation (MDA) in all the groups as compared to nonpregnant controls (P< 0.001). Elevated levels of malondialdehyde in pre-eclamptic subjects declined significantly (p<0.001) after delivery. A significant decrease (P<0.001) in the level of non-enzymatic antioxidants viz. reduced glutathione, vitamin-E, vitamin

-A and vitamin – C was observed in all the groups as compared to nonpregnant controls. In the postpartum preeclamptic group significant increase was noted in all antioxidants except vitamin A as compared to preeclamptic group.

Conclusions: Our study showed clear insight into disturbances associated with normal pregnancy, which are exaggerated in complicated pregnancy like preeclampsia with enhanced lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidants. Early attention, intensive management and treatment are essential to improve maternal and fetal outcome.