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Objective: To investigate the possible correlation between plasma malondialdehyde and homocysteine levels of preeclamptic patients., Design: Venous blood samples of 20 preeclamptics and 20 healthy pregnant controls were collected. Plasma malondialdehyde and homocysteine concentrations were measured and the correlation between them was investigated. Mann Whitney U test and Spearman correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis., Setting: University of Firat, Medical School., Results: Plasma malondialdehyde and homocysteine concentrations were higher in preeclamptic patients (p<0.05) and a positive correlation between these parameters was found (r: 0.77, p<0.01, n:20)., Conclusion: Our results may put forward some new strategies in the research of etiopathogenesis and treatment of preeclampsia.

Background: Although many associations have been demonstrated between hyperhomocysteinemia and pregnancy complications, such as spontaneous abortion, preterm labor, preeclampsia and low birthweight, it is still not clear whether hyperhomocysteinemia is the cause or the consequence of these pregnancy complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of homocysteine on the spontaneous contractility of isolated pregnant human myometrium., Methods: Myometrium samples obtained from women undergoing elective caesarean section were suspended in a jacketed organ bath containing Krebs' solution at 37 degrees C (pH 7.4), continuously gassed with 95% O2 and 5% CO2. After manifestation of spontaneous contractions under 2 g of resting tension, homocysteine was applied to the organ bath, and amplitude and frequency of contractions were evaluated at 20-min intervals. Statistical analysis of amplitude and frequency of the contractions was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance test., Results: Application of 0.1 mm homocysteine had no significant effect on either frequency (4.63 +/- 0.42 vs. 4.01 +/- 0.53 for the control period; p > 0.05) or amplitude (3.20 +/- 0.07 g vs. 3.15 +/- 0.07 g; p > 0.05) of spontaneous contractions, while 1 and 2 mm homocysteine significantly increased the frequency (8.54 +/- 0.62 vs. 3.9 +/- 0.44, p < 0.02, and 12.32 +/- 0.72 vs. 3.96 +/- 0.51, p < 0.001, respectively) of spontaneous contractions but caused only a modest change in amplitude (2.92 +/- 0.04 g vs. 2.87 +/- 0.05 g, p > 0.05, and 3.02 +/- 0.06 g vs. 2.93 +/- 0.05 g, p > 0.05, respectively)., Conclusion: Results from this study indicate for the first time that homocysteine causes enhancement of spontaneous contractions of myometrium derived from pregnant women.

Objective: To investigate the effects of tibolone on levels of plasma homocysteine, an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disorders, in postmenopausal women., Design: Prospective, randomized clinical study., Setting: University hospital., Patient(s): Postmenopausal healthy women., Intervention(s): Tibolone (2.5 mg/d) or calcium (1250 mg/d) and conjugated equine estrogens (0.625 mg/d) plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (5 mg/d) were administered orally for 6 months. Blood samples were collected at the start and the end of therapy., Main Outcome Measure(s): Plasma homocysteine levels., Result(s): Administration of tibolone and calcium caused only a 4% decrease in plasma homocysteine levels compared with initial levels. In contrast, conjugated equine estrogens plus medroxyprogesterone acetate caused a 29% decrease in plasma homocysteine levels., Conclusion(s): Despite the reported beneficial effect of tibolone on the serum lipid profile, tibolone had no statistically significant effect on serum homocysteine levels in postmenopausal women. The possible cardiovascular protective role of tibolone might be unrelated to its effects on homocysteine levels.

Recent studies have suggested association between the elevated homocysteine levels and pregnancy complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of homocysteine on spontaneous contractions of myometrium isolated from pregnant guinea pig. Full-thickness myometrial strips were obtained from late-pregnant guinea pigs following decapitation, and suspended in an organ bath which was filled with physiological saline solution (pH 7.4), maintained at 37 degrees C and continuously bubbled with 95% O2 and 5% CO2. After the observation of spontaneous contractions under one gram of resting tension, homocysteine (0.2, 0.5 and 1 mM) was added to the organ bath and effects of this agent on frequency and amplitude of contractions were evaluated in 20-min periods. One-way analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis of the data. Homocysteine caused increase in both frequency and amplitude of spontaneous contractions in a dose-dependent manner. The results from this in vitro study indicate that cardiovascular risk factor homocysteine has contracting pharmacological effects on guinea pig myometrium.