© 2003 BMJ Publishing Group
LETTER TO JMG
Haptoglobin and its association with the HELLP syndrome
1 Department of Gastroenterology, University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr W H M Peters, Department of Gastroenterology, University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
w.peters@gastro.azn.nl
Keywords: HELPP syndrome; haptoglobin; oxidative stress; pre-eclampsia
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
Haptoglobin (Hp) is an acute phase 
2-sialoglycoprotein, which is characterised by molecular heterogeneity.1 Owing to a genetic polymorphism, different Hp phenotypes exist of which Hp1-1, Hp1-2, and Hp2-2 are the three major isoforms in humans. Hp consists of two different polypeptide chains, the heavy ß chain, which is identical in all haptoglobins, and the light chain, consisting of two 1 chains and a 2 chain, modifications of which result in the different Hp phenotypes.2
The most important function of Hp is capturing haemoglobin, thereby preventing iron loss and subsequent oxidative damage generated by free iron in the vascular system of the kidneys. Binding of haemoglobin to Hp is beneficial for the human body in several other ways. Hp is protective against cell damage by scavenging free radicals, such as the hydroxyl radical, the formation of which is promoted by the presence of free haemoglobin. Furthermore, the Hp-haemoglobin complex inhibits the vasodilatory effect
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