The trend of erythrocyte sodium parallels the pattern of diastolic blood pressure in preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the trend of intracellular sodium in patients who develop preeclampsia.


METHODS
In this longitudinal study, we determined intraerythrocyte sodium (Nai) in 303 primigravid pregnancies every fourth week from gestational week 10 through week 38. The study group included 274 normotensive and 29 chronic hypertensive gravidae. During the study, 26 normotensive and six chronic hypertensive pregnant women developed preeclampsia.


RESULTS
Chronic hypertensives showed higher baseline intraerythrocyte sodium, compared to the normotensives. The women who developed preeclampsia demonstrated a significant increase in Nai concentration from 26-30 weeks onward. Data from blood pressure recordings paralleled data from Nai.


CONCLUSIONS
Due to the possible role of Nai on intracellular free calcium mobilization, our findings support a possible involvement of defective cell membrane function in the development of preeclampsia.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ancona, Italy.
A L
AL
Tranquilli
G G
GG
Garzetti
C
C
Romanini
D001794:Blood Pressure; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis*
D012964:Sodium