Nitric oxide production is not altered in preeclampsia.

Background: Preeclampsia remains a disease of theories as the real aetiology has remained elusive. Altered nitric oxide production has been associated with preeclampsia although conflicting results showing elevation, decrease or no change in nitric oxide levels have emerged from previous studies.

Objective: The aim of the study was to measure the serum levels of nitrate and nitrite in normal pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia.

Differential levels of interleukin 6 in maternal and cord sera and placenta in women with pre-eclampsia.

Background: Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a T helper 2 cytokine with a variety of properties including pro-inflammatory characteristics. It has, therefore, been implicated in the pathophysiology of abnormal pregnancies.

Objective: To investigate the association between IL-6 and pre-eclampsia by estimating the differential levels of IL-6 in maternal and cord serum and supernatant of homogenized placental tissue.

Influence of alpha-thalassemia trait on the prevalence and severity of anemia in pregnancy among women in Kuwait.

Alpha-thalassemia is very common in the Kuwaiti population, but its influence on anemia of pregnancy has not been previously investigated. We have screened a group of 59 anemic (Hb < 11 g/dl) pregnant women for the alpha-thal-2 (-alpha-3.7 kb) deletion which is the commonest alpha-thal allele in this community, using a polymerase chain reaction method.