Abstract
Severe pregnancy-associated hypertension (P-AH, preeclampsia) is characterised by lowered plasma renin activity and plasma renin concentration, despite concomitant plasma volume contraction. Measurement of total (active + trypsin activatable) and active renin concentrations in peripheral blood of 13 women with P-AH revealed low active levels, but total renin concentrations (193 ± 61 ng/ml A1) which were not significantly different from those of 20 normotensive pregnant women (174 ± 54 ng/ml A1). Women with more severe P-AH as assessed by the presence of proteinuria (± 500 mg per day) had the lowest levels of active renin concentration (3.9 ± 1.3 ng/ml A1, vs 10 ± 4.5 in the normals, p < 0.01). This may represent failure of secretion of active renin or failure of activation of inactive renin.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 453-464 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Hypertension in Pregnancy |
Volume | B6 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1987 |
Externally published | Yes |