Systemic and uteroplacental renin--angiotensin system in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies.
Pregnancy is characterized by an increase in many of the different components of the circulating renin-angiotensin system (RAS). However, the physiological mechanisms of stimulated RAS activity during pregnancy are unknown. Even less understood is how this system may be altered in pre-eclampsia, a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Additional studies have shown the presence of a local tissue specific RAS in the uteroplacental unit of normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies. Differences in normal pregnant and pre-eclamptic RAS component regulation may provide insight into the mechanisms responsible for the clinical pathological features of pre-eclampsia. Specifically, this review summarizes the key findings in the circulating and uteroplacental RAS in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies.
Anton
Lauren
L
Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Brosnihan
K Bridget
KB
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000502:physiology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000502:physiology*