Increased serum phosphodiesterase activity in women with pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the activity of serum phosphodiesterase (PDE) in pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Nephrology Laboratory and Obstetrics Unit at São Lucas Hospital from Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.


METHODS
Twenty-nine normal and 28 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
Serum was collected from women with pre-eclampsia, at the time of diagnosis, and from gestation-matched controls. Circulating PDE activity was assessed by measuring consumption of the substrate thymidine 5'-monophosphate p-nitrophenyl ester and expressed as PDE units/l.


METHODS
Serum PDE Activity.


RESULTS
Mean substrate consumption was higher in pre-eclamptic condition (V(max)= 15.8 +/- 1.4 versus 12.7 +/- 0.9 U/L, P= 3.7 x 10(-14)).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that altered PDE activity may play a role in pre-eclampsia endothelial dysfunction.
Pinheiro da Costa
B E
BE
Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde (Nefrologia), Instituto de Pesquisas Biomédicas/Faculdade de Medicina/Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. bart@pucrs.br
Scocco
C
C
Poli de Figueiredo
C E
CE
Guimarães
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000201:enzymology*; D011247:Pregnancy
D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases