Renin angiotensin aldosterone system, urinary prostaglandins and kallikrein in pregnancy induced hypertension. Evidence for a disregulation of the renin-angiotensin-prostacyclin loop.

ABSTRACT

Plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentrations were measured simultaneously with urinary excretion of kallikrein and four prostaglandins (PGE2, PGF2 alpha, 6 keto PFG1 alpha and TXB2) in 23 patients with pregnancy induced hypertension (17 with permanent PIH and six with labile PIH, since in these latter their hypertension was controlled only by home bed rest) and in 16 normotensive pregnant women at the same stage of gestation (31 +/- 3 weeks). PRA was lower in permanent PIH than in controls and in labile PIH. No difference between the three groups was observed for plasma aldosterone and the urinary excretion of kallikrein and of the prostaglandins except that TXB2 was higher in labile PIH than in permanent PIH. Correlation studies of kallikrein disclosed correlations with most prostaglandin excretions, explained by the physiological stimulation of phospholipase A2 by kallidin. Correlation studies of PRA disclosed unexpected negative correlation with PGE2 and 6 keto PGF1 alpha in the permanent PIH group. In conclusion, labile PIH has a different biological profile than permanent PIH since they have higher PRA and higher TXB2 excretion, an association which suggests a more pronounced ureteral compression by the gravid uterus in this group. Permanent PIH has a disregulation of the renin angiotensin-prostacyclin loop since PRA and 6 keto PGF1 are negatively correlated. This suggests the role of an independent vasopressive substance which would stimulate PGI2 and suppress renin secretion.