Increased plasma levels of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the plasma vasoactive peptide (VIP) levels in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
A prospective clinical study.


METHODS
University Department of Obstetrics, Tromsø, Norway.


METHODS
18 women with untreated gestational proteinuric hypertension between 32 and 40 weeks gestation (13 primigravid) and 8 women with normal pregnancies of similar gestational age.


METHODS
Fasting blood samples on two occasions, 10 min apart.


METHODS
Plasma VIP measured by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
Mean maternal plasma VIP was 13.9 (SEM 1.7) pmol/l in those with pre-eclampsia and 4.4 (SEM 0.5) pmol/l in normal pregnancies (P less than 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The increased levels of VIP in pre-eclampsia may represent a powerful compensatory mechanism to restore vascular perfusion of various organs, including the uterus and placenta.
Holst
N
N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Tromsø, Norway.
Oian
P
P
Aune
B
B
Jenssen
T G
TG
Burhol
P G
PG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000097:blood*
D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide