A Modified Method for the Assessment of Na-K ATPase Specific Activity in the Red Blood Cell Membranes in Iraqi Patients with Pre-eclampsia

Abstract

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a human pregnancy-specific disorder characterized by the appearance of proteinuria-related hypertension that appears de novo after 20 weeks of pregnancy in a previously normotensive woman and is fully resolved by the sixth week of postpartum. This is the main reason for morbidity and pregnancy-related death. It is a multisystem disease, but its etiology is not well understood. Pre-eclampsia is associated with anomalies in many systems, including ion transport disorder in placental cell lines, maternal and neonatal. Objective: This study aimed to develop a modified method and measured the specific enzyme activity of Na-K ATPase in red blood cell ghosts in pre-eclampsia patients compared to normal pregnancies. Design and Methods: This was a case-control study involving 105 cases, divided into two groups, 60 normal pregnancy and 45 pre-eclampsia patients. The modified method for estimating specific activity included the determination of inorganic phosphate produced by enzymatic ATP hydrolysis and protein released through 30 minutes of incubation (Pi). The specific activity was expressed in milligrams of phosphate concentration per gram of total protein concentration. The analysis of the results was carried out using version 26 of the Social Sciences Statistical Package (SPSS®) and a p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: Specific enzyme activity was significantly lower in pre-eclampsia patients compared to control groups, P < 0.05. The study also found an inverse correlation between specific enzyme activity, systolic pressure, and diastolic pressure. Conclusion: The modified method of determining the activity of the Na-K ATPase described in this work is cost-effective and accurate. Reduction in enzyme activity is significant in patients with pre-eclampsia compared to normal pregnancy.