Effect of magnesium sulfate on the osmotic fragility and lipid peroxidation of intact red blood cells from pregnant women with severe preeclampsia.

Objective: To evaluate the osmotic fragility and level of lipid peroxidation of red blood cells from pregnant women with severe preeclampsia, treated or not with MgSO(4).

Methods: Osmotic fragility and lipid peroxidation of red blood cells was evaluated in 11 normotensive pregnant women and eleven pregnant women with severe preeclampsia.

Results: MgSO(4) therapy, either in vivo or in vitro, leads to a reduction of the osmotic fragility and the level of lipid peroxidation of red blood cells from pregnant women with severe preeclampsia.