Abstract

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, such as preeclampsia/eclampsia, gestational hypertension and chronic hypertension, account for serious adverse outcome for mother and fetus. Oxidative stress, defined as the imbalance between oxidative and antioxidant mechanisms, is present in multiple disorders, as well as in pregnancy. It is characterized by increased free radical generation, affecting all macromolecules. Pathophysiology of pregnancies complicated with hypertension is characterized by more severe oxidative stress and by endothelial dysfunction. Preeclampsia and cardiovascular diseases seem to share common pathophysiology, such as dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction.

Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, oxidative stress, preeclampsia, pregnancy, cytochrome P450