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 MgSO4. 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: MgSO4 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. Conclusions: Interaction of MgSO4 with free radicals, by avoiding an excessive lipid peroxidation of the red blood cell membrane, would protect the membrane structure, avoiding in this way the increase in osmotic fragility.