According to lead researcher Darren S. Hoffmann, tempol
"The results strongly suggest that antioxidant therapy will be useful for women with pre-eclampsia," Hoffmann said. Hoffmann received a Caroline tum Suden/ Frances A. Hellebrandt Professional Opportunity Award from The American Physiological Society (APS) for the exemplary research. The paper will be presented in an APS session at Experimental Biology 2006.
*Paper presentation: "Superoxide scavenging improves early placental development and fetal growth and survival in a mouse model of pre-eclampsia," 12:45 p.m. - 3 p.m., Sunday April 2, Physiology Genetic Models of Cardiovascular Function, 212.8/board #C386. On view 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Research was by Darren S. Hoffmann, Christine J. Weydert, Ram V. Sharma and Robin L. Davisson, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA.
Cause of pre-eclampsia unclear
Pre-eclampsia has been recognized as a threat to maternal health for centuries and is the leading cause worldwide of mortality during pregnancy. But its cause has remained a mystery, Hoffmann said. The condition is marked by high blood pressure and kidney dysfunction, and occurs in about 5% of pregnancies. The only way to reverse the condition, which occurs in the third trimester, is to induce early delivery, he said.
The condition is often treated by complete bed rest. But managing the condition is a delicate balance pitting the needs of the mother, who is suffering a potentially harmful condition, against the needs of the fetus, which is best
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Contact: Christine Guilfoy
cguilfoy@the-aps.org
301-634-7253
American Physiological Society
3-Apr-2006