Second and early third trimester atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels in pregnancies subsequently complicated by hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the clinical utility of measuring atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in the second and early third trimesters of pregnancy in order to predict pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH).


METHODS
The study was done in a University Teaching Hospital. A prospective study of 200 women in their first pregnancy was conducted. ANP was measured at 2 gestational windows, 20-26 weeks and 30-34 weeks. This was correlated with pregnancy outcomes, in particular PIH. Student's t-test was used to compare ANP levels between women who developed PIH and those who did not. The receiver operator curve (ROC) was used to determine its clinical utility.


RESULTS
ANP levels were lower at 20-26 weeks in women who subsequently developed PIH but there was no significant difference at 30-34 weeks between women who had normotensive pregnancies and those who later developed PIH. The character of the ROC would indicate that it is not useful for prediction.


CONCLUSIONS
ANP levels in the second and early third trimesters has limited clinical utility for the prediction of PIH.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, HOng Kong.
T K
TK
Chung
M S
MS
Rogers
S
S
Baldwin
A M
AM
Chang
M G
MG
Nicholls
D000328:Adult; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000097:blood*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve
D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor