Relationship between leucocyte sodium content and high blood pressure during development and resolution of pre-eclampsia.
1. One hundred and five primigravidae were followed sequentially at 4-weekly intervals starting at gestational week 31. They were seen again at 6 weeks post partum. 2. At each visit measurements were made of blood pressure as well as of leucocyte and erythrocyte sodium and potassium content. 3. Eighty-five subjects completed the study. Seven developed pre-eclampsia. 4. In both controls and patients who developed pre-eclampsia, leucocyte and erythrocyte sodium content increased with gestational age and fell post partum. These changes were of greater magnitude in the patients with pre-eclampsia. Cell potassium fell in both groups, but to a greater extent in patients with pre-eclampsia. 5. These changes in cell sodium paralleled those in blood pressure in both groups. 6. These data suggest that the excessive blood pressure changes in pre-eclampsia might be related to similar changes in cell sodium content.
Seon
R
R
Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.
Forrester
T
T
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood*
D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium