INCREASED CONCENTRATIONS OF PLASMA EPINEPHRINE AND NOREPINEPHRINE IN PATIENTS WITH ECLAMPSIA

We measured plasma catecholamine concentrations on admission (after ec lamptic fit) and after 6 days of delivery in 21 eclamptic patients and on admission in 15 normotensive pregnant women in Bangladesh. Plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations in eclamptic patients we re significantly higher on admission than those of normotensive pregna nt women (P < 0.0001). Plasma catecholamine concentrations and mean ar terial blood pressure had return to be almost normal as normotensive p regnant women after 6 days of delivery, resulting in no correlation be tween mean arterial blood pressure and plasma catecholamines. On admis sion (after eclamptic fit) mean arterial blood pressure was positively correlated with plasma epinephrine (r = 0.626, P < 0.002) and norepin ephrine (r = 0.553. P < 0.008) concentrations in patients with eclamps ia. The amount of proteinuria was also significantly correlated with p lasma epinephrine (r = 0.515, P < 0.02) and norepinephrine (r = 0.606, P < 0.003) concentrations. Number of convulsions was significantly co rrelated with concentrations of plasma epinephrine (r = 0.514, P < 0.0 2), norepinephrine (r = 0.521, P < 0.01) and mean arterial blood press ure (r = 0.535, P < 0.01). A positive correlation was found between ti me passed after convulsion with plasma epinephrine (r = 0.515, P < 0.0 2) and norepinephrine (r = 0.570, P < 0.006) concentrations. These sug gested that the increased plasma levels of epinephrine and norepinephr ine in eclamptic patients were well correlated with the severity of th e clinical features of eclampsia.