title: Plasma and urinary endothelin 1, prostacyclin metabolites and platelet consumption in pre-eclampsia and essential hypertensive pregnancy.
abstract: This study examined plasma and urinary endothelin 1 and urinary metabolites of prostacyclin and thromboxane, in women with pre-eclampsia and age and gestation matched controls. To determine if changes in endothelin 1 and urinary prostanoids in pre-eclampsia were due to hypertension per se, a comparison was made to a group of age and gestation matched pregnant uncomplicated essential hypertensive women. Measurements were taken prior to delivery, and at 6 weeks and 6 months post-partum, and were compared to a group of age matched non-pregnant controls. Plasma endothelin 1 was significantly elevated and the urinary metabolite of prostacyclin (2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF1 alpha) was significantly suppressed in pre-eclamptic pregnancy, compared to normal pregnancy and essential hypertensive pregnancy. As the level of blood pressure was similar in the pre-eclamptic and essential hypertensive groups, these changes are not due to an increase in blood pressure per se. Urinary endothelin 1 was not different in the 3 pregnant groups prior to delivery but fell significantly after delivery. Urinary endothelin 1 was significantly lower in the essential hypertensive group at 6 weeks post-partum compared to pregnant controls with a similar trend at 6 months. Urinary 11-dehydro-TXB2 was elevated in pregnancy, but no further elevation was seen in women with pre-eclampsia. Platelet counts were lower, and circulating neutrophil counts higher in pre-eclampsia prior to delivery. A combination of increased plasma endothelin 1 and reduced tissue prostacyclin synthesis may contribute to hypertension, placental insufficiency, foetal growth retardation and renal dysfunction in pre-eclampsia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: University Department of Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barden
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Beilin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Michael
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine; D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins; D013929:Thromboxane B2; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; C028290:2,3-dinor-6-ketoprostaglandin F1alpha; C049235:11-dehydro-thromboxane B2; D011464:Epoprostenol