THE CONCENTRATION OF PLASMA ATRIAL-NATRIURETIC-PEPTIDE IN NORMOTENSIVE AND PREECLAMPTIC PREGNANCIES

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a family of;peptides secreted by t he heart, affecting the cardiovascular, renal and endocrine systems. T his study questions previous research findings regarding elevated ANP levels, despite vasoconstriction and hypovolemia, in preeclamptic pati ents. Materials and method's: Seventeen patients with preeclampsia, 5 with superimposed preeclampsia with chronic hypertension and 17 normot ensive pregnant women were compared with respect to plasma ANP levels. Seventeen non-pregnant women were taken as the control group. All the women, except the ones with superimposed preeclampsia, were age match ed and in their third trimester. Results: ANP levels in the non-pregna nt women(6.9 +/- 0.7 pg/ml) were not different from those in the normo tensive pregnant women (6.4 +/- 0.7 pg/ml). ANP levels were significan tly higher in women with preeclampsia (10.8 +/- 1.8 pg/ml) or superimp osed preeclampsia (9.7 +/- 1.4 pg/ml) than in normotensive pregnant wo men and normal non-pregnant women (P < 0.05). According to the literat ure, there is a volume depletion in preeclamptic women. However, this wasn't demonstrated in our study group. Conclusion: ANP levels in pree clamptic women were found to be higher than those in normotensive preg nant women. The etiology still remains obscure.