Calcium metabolism in pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To study calcium metabolism in pre-eclampsia and normotensive gravid women.


METHODS
Ten milliliters of heparinized blood samples and 24-h urine samples were collected from 50 pre-eclamptic and 50 normotensive primigravidae. Blood samples were studied for calcium uptake, intracellular calcium level and calcium-dependent adenosine triphosphatase activity of red blood cell ghost. Urinary calcium excretion was estimated from the 24-h urine samples. These values were compared in the two groups.


RESULTS
The mean gestational age at recruitment was similar in both the groups. The mean maternal age was 24.28 +/- 2.41 years in pre-eclamptic and 23.48 +/- 4.16 years in normotensive women. In pre-eclampsia 24-h urinary calcium excretion (71.20 +/- 22.95 mg/day) and calcium-dependent ATPase activity (10.78 +/- 2.40 nmol/Pi/mg protein/min) was significantly lower compared to normotensive primigravidae (calcium excretion = 189.24 +/- 57.06 mg/day; Ca2+-dependent ATPase = 12.64 +/- 2.42 nmolPi/mg /protein per min; P < 0.001). Intracellular calcium levels and calcium uptake at 10 min by red blood cells were significantly higher in pre-eclampsia (P < 0.05). Calcium uptake by red blood cells at 20 and 30 min was similar in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Pre-eclampsia is associated with increased levels of intracellular calcium, decreased calcium-dependent ATPase activity of erythrocytes and hypocalciuria.
Ray
J
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Experimental Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Vasishta
K
K
Kaur
S
S
Majumdar
S
S
Sawhney
H
H
D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010298:Parity; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D002118:Calcium