title: Mineralocorticoids and mineralocorticoid receptors in mononuclear leukocytes in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension.
abstract: To examine the role of mineralocorticoids in the pathophysiology of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), we studied plasma aldosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone levels in 25 women with PIH and 25 normal pregnant women, as controls. Furthermore, we evaluated the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) status in mononuclear leukocytes in the 2 groups. MR count was significantly (P less than 0.0005) decreased in the PIH group (148 +/- 9 binding sites/cell) compared with the control group (300 +/- 17 binding sites/cell; mean +/- SEM). Plasma aldosterone in women with PIH was 281 +/- 61 pmol/L; in normal pregnant women it was 697 +/- 172 pmol/L (P less than 0.025). Plasma 18-hydroxycorticosterone was also significantly (P less than 0.025) lower (PIH, 1071 +/- 149 pmol/L; controls, 1907 +/- 318 pmol/L). These values were determined at the onset of clinical symptoms of PIH. These results cannot be explained by receptor down-regulation due to higher levels of mineralocorticoids in PIH; a hitherto unknown mineralocorticoid may, thus, be responsible for the hypertension and altered MR status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wacker
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: E-Mistry
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vecsei
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stolz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bastert
mesh_terms: D015069:18-Hydroxycorticosterone / Q000097:blood; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008901:Mineralocorticoids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008901:Mineralocorticoids; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D000450:Aldosterone; D015069:18-Hydroxycorticosterone