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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Cerebral Osmolytes and Plasma Osmolality in Pregnancy and Preeclampsia: A Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study
American Journal of Hypertension, Volume 31, No. 7, Year 2018
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Description
Background: Cerebral complications contribute substantially to mortality in preeclampsia. Pregnancy calls for extensive maternal adaptations, some associated with increased propensity for seizures, but the pathophysiology behind the eclamptic seizures is not fully understood. Plasma osmolality and sodium levels are lowered in pregnancy. This could result in extrusion of cerebral organic osmolytes, including the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, but this remains to be determined. The hypothesis of this study was that cerebral levels of organic osmolytes are decreased during pregnancy, and that this decrease is even more pronounced in women with preeclampsia. Methods: We used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to compare levels of cerebral organic osmolytes, in women with preeclampsia (n = 30), normal pregnancy (n = 32), and nonpregnant controls (n = 16). Cerebral levels of organic osmolytes were further correlated to plasma osmolality and plasma levels of glutamate and sodium. Results: Compared to nonpregnant women, women with normal pregnancy and preeclampsia had lower levels of the cerebral osmolytes, myo-inositol, choline and creatine (P = 0.001 or less), and all these metabolites correlated with each other (P < 0.05). Women with normal pregnancies and preeclampsia had similar levels of osmolytes, except for glutamate, which was significantly lower in preeclampsia. Cerebral and plasma glutamate levels were negatively correlated with each other (P < 0.008), and myo-inositol, choline and creatine levels were all positively correlated with both plasma osmolality and sodium levels (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our results indicate that pregnancy is associated with extrusion of cerebral organic osmolytes. This includes the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, which may be involved in the pathophysiology of seizures in preeclampsia. © 2018 American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Nelander, Maria
Sweden, Uppsala
Uppsala Universitet
Wikstrom̈, Anna Karin
Sweden, Uppsala
Uppsala Universitet
Bergman, Lina
Sweden, Uppsala
Uppsala Universitet
Larsson, Anders Olof
Sweden, Uppsala
Uppsala Universitet
Sundström Porömaa, Inger
Sweden, Uppsala
Uppsala Universitet
Wikström, Johan L.
Sweden, Uppsala
Uppsala Universitet
Statistics
Citations: 10
Authors: 6
Affiliations: 1
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1093/ajh/hpy019
ISSN:
08957061
Research Areas
Maternal And Child Health
Noncommunicable Diseases
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Participants Gender
Female