[Prolactin in normal pregnancy and severe pregnancy-induced hypertension].
OBJECTIVE
This study was to investigate the relationship between serum prolactin and pregnancy-induced hypertension.


METHODS
Maternal serum prolactin was estimated by radioimmunoassay in 89 normal pregnant women and 52 patients with severe pregnancy-induced hypertension at 28 to 42 week gestation.


RESULTS
In normal pregnancy, prolactin level increased progressively from a mean value of 270 mg.L-1 in the 24th week to 440 mg.L-1 in the 34th week and decreased progressively from the 38th week to the 40th week. In severe pregnancy-induced hypertension increased progressively too; 31 of 52 patients with severe prolactin showed high prolactin levels in zone A (> mean value + standard of prolactin values in the normal pregnancy), 10 patients in zone B (mean + standard to mean) and 11 patients in zone C (< mean).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that high prolactin levels may play an important role in the pathogenesis of severe pregnancy-induced hypertension.
Chen
B L
BL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xiangya Hospital, Hunan Medical College, Central South University, Changsha 410008.
Zhang
Z H
ZH
Liu
N B
NB
Huang
K S
KS
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D011388:Prolactin