title: Erythrocyte Na+-Li+ counter-transport activity and digoxin-like substances in insulin dependent diabetic women with preexisting preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether there is pathogenetic link between red cells sodium-lithium counter-transport activity and digoxin-like immunoreactive substances (DLIS) in plasma of insulin-dependent diabetic (IDDM) and non-diabetic women with preexisting preeclampsia (PE).
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied Na(+)/Li(+) CT activity in red cells and plasma levels of DLIS in 11 IDDM women with preexisting PE (Group 1), 13 IDDM without preexisting PE (Group 2) 23 non-diabetic women with preexisting PE (Group 3) and 12 non-diabetic women with normal pregnancy (Group 4) at least 4 months after delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Na(+)/Li(+) CT activity was higher in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (mean ± SEM 0.316 ± 0.05 vs 0.190 ± 0.02 mmol/LRBC/hr p < 0.05) and in Group 3 compared to Group 4 (0.365 ± 0.004 vs 0.168 ± 0.01 mmol/LRBC/hr, p < 0.01). Plasma levels of DLIS were higher in Group 3 compared to Group 4 (0.727 ± 0.189 vs 0.295 ± 0.066 ng/ml; p<0.05); there was no statistically significant difference between the two diabetic groups. In Groups 1 and 3, Na(+)/Li(+) CT activity was correlated to the plasma levels of DLIS (r = 0.927; p < 0.001 and r = 0.485; p<0.05 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased Na(+)/Li(+) CT activity and increased plasma levels of DLIS may contribute to PE in IDDM and non-diabetic women.
authors.affiliation: First Endocrinology Department, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Helen-Leda
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Sarica
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Anastasiou
authors.forename: Maria-Rea
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Charitopoulou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karamaliki
authors.forename: Eirini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grapsa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017920:Antiporters / Q000097:blood*; D002298:Cardenolides / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics; D012503:Saponins / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017920:Antiporters; D002298:Cardenolides; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D012503:Saponins; C034504:digoxin-like factors; C045885:sodium-lithium countertransporter