Background
Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a marker of lipid peroxidation. Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) are the main enzymes responsible for the detoxification of superoxide anion. The aim was to assess whether serum MDA, erythrocyte GPX, and erythrocyte SOD levels altered during early spontaneous abortions presenting with vaginal bleeding.
Material and Method
A group of pregnant women at less than 8 weeks' gestation with spontaneous abortion and vaginal bleeding (n=23) and a control group of healthy pregnancies with similar characteristics (n=25) were included. Serum MDA levels, erythrocyte GPX, and SOD activities were determined and compared among the groups.
Results
Characteristics, including maternal age, parity, gestational age, complete blood count values, serum total protein, serum albumin, and serum lipid profile, were similar across the groups. Spontaneous abortion prior to 8 weeks of gestation was associated with increased mean serum MDA levels and decreased mean erythrocyte SOD activity. Erythrocyte GPX values did not differ among the groups.
Conclusions
Increased lipid peroxidation and inhibition of SOD activity might be involved in the termination of spontaneous abortions and expulsion of fetoplacental material out of the uterine cavity.

Keywords: Superoxide Dismutase - blood, Malondialdehyde - blood, Lipid Peroxidation, Glutathione Peroxidase - blood, Uterine Hemorrhage - etiology, Erythrocytes - enzymology, Case-Control Studies, Abortion, Spontaneous - etiology