AMNIOTIC-FLUID ENDOTHELIN-1 LEVELS ARE INCREASED IN PREGNANCY-INDUCEDHYPERTENSION AND INTRAUTERINE GROWTH-RETARDATION

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor released by vascular e ndothelium. Because endothelial cell damage is considered determinant in the pathophysiology of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), this s tudy was conducted to evaluate the role of ET-1 produced by fete-place ntal tissues in PIH. Amniotic fluid samples obtained by amniocentesis from patients with PIH (N=33), intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) (N=16), and PIH associated with IUGR (N=12) were evaluated for ET-1 an d compared to 42 normotensive pregnancies using a specific radioimmuno assay. ET-1 levels were significantly increased in PIH (35.6 +/- 1.9 p g/ml) and IUGR groups (33.8 +/- 3.6 pg/ml) compared to controls (20.8 +/- 1.4 pg/ml) (P < 0.01). In patients with PIH associated with IUGR, ET-1 concentrations were higher (P < 0.05) with no correlation with th e severity of IUGR. Our data indicate that in PIH and IUGR ET-1 produc tion and/or secretion is enhanced in the amniotic compartment, suggest ing that the peptide may contribute to the pathophysiologic modificati ons observed in these conditions.