MitoQ to Ameliorate Vascular Function in Preeclampsia

Jennifer McIntosh of the Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc. in the U.S. will test the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ as a treatment for preeclampsia. MitoQ is a nutritional supplement that has been used in human clinical trials for conditions other than preeclampsia, and it has been shown to reverse symptoms in a mouse model of preeclampsia. Two, pilot clinical trials will be performed with pregnant women with preeclampsia at 23-32 weeks of gestation: 30 in-hospital patients with severe symptoms not requiring immediate delivery and 50 outpatients without severe symptoms. All participants will be randomized to receive either oral MitoQ or a placebo, with standard care for preeclampsia continuing unchanged. Participants will be monitored regularly with a measure of endothelial dysfunction (brachial artery flow-mediated dilation) as primary outcome, and including measures of cutaneous circulation, blood-borne biomarkers of preeclampsia and oxidative stress, and post-delivery placental samples to measure vascular function and oxidative stress biomarkers.