title: The effect of consanguinity on pregnancy-induced hypertension.
abstract: The aetiology of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) is unknown. Either an immunological or a genetic disorder are considered likely, with possibly an interaction between the two. If this were true, homozygosity would play an important role. Though consanguinity is believed to play a protective role, the effect of inbreeding on PIH has been inadequately studied. In South India consanguinity is common (26%). We prospectively studied 814 primigravidas of whom 213 had consanguineous marriages. The proportion of women who developed PIH was compared in the 2 groups of women with consanguineous and nonconsanguineous marriages. The odds of a patient with PIH being consanguineous was 1.12 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.72-1.75. Our observations suggest that consanguinity does not influence the incidence of PIH.
authors.affiliation: Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, South India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vedamony
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Idikulla
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003241:Consanguinity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies