THE ASSOCIATION OF PLASMA ENDOTHELIN WITH CLINICAL-PARAMETERS IN PREECLAMPSIA

Objective: To determine whether there are any associations between mat ernal plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels and clinical parameters in pre eclampsia. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 32 healthy pregn ant women, 21 women with preeclampsia, and 11 women with gestational h ypertension in the third trimester. ET-1 was measured by radioimmunoas say from Sep-Pak C-18-extracted plasma. Results: The ET-1 levels were significantly higher in preeclamptic women [median 6.2 pmol/L (range 3 .9-13.0)] than in healthy pregnant controls [4.8 pmol/L (1.8-6.8)1, P < 0.004]. There was a positive correlation between plasma ET-1 levels and an umbilical arterial systolic/diastolic ratio (r = 0.42, P < 0.02 ) and an inverse, although statistically not significant, correlation between plasma ET-1 levels and platelet count (r = -0.35, P = 0.059) i n women with preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. Conclusions: T hese findings suggest increased release of ET-1 in preeclampsia and an association between the plasma ET-1 level and the severity of hyperte nsive disorder in pregnancy.