Relationship between leucocyte sodium content and high blood pressure during development and resolution of pre-eclampsia

One hundred and five primigravidae were followed sequentially at 4-weekly intervals starting at gestational week 31. They were seen again at 6 weeks post partum. At each visit measurement were made of blood pressure as well as of leucocyte and erythrocyte sodium and potassium content. Eighty-five subjects completed the study. Seven developed pre-eclampsia. In both controls and patients who developed pre-eclampsia, leucocyte and erythrocyte sodium content increased with gestational age and fell post partum. These changes were of greater magnitude in the patients with pre-eclampsia. Cell potassium fell in both groups, but to a greater extent in patients with pre-eclampsia. These changes in cell sodium paralleled those in blood pressure in both groups. These data suggest that the excessive blood pressure changes in pre-eclampsia might be related to similar changes in cell sodium content (AU)

Leucocyte and erythrocyte sodium and potassium levels in pregnancy: prediction of pre-eclampsia

The pathogenesis of the hypertension in pre-eclampsia, although obscure, has been related by many authorities to excessive retention. However, there are very few documented records of measurements of intracellular ionic levels and there is no concensus as to whether the levels are indeed elevated. In this thesis, a study of the leucocyte and erythrocyte sodium and potassium contents and blood pressures of two groups of pre-eclamptic primigravidae is presented. In both controls and patients who had or developed pre-eclampsia, leucocyte or erythrocyte sodium content increased with gestational age, peaking just before term and falling post partum. The potassium levels displayed the opposite pattern. These changes were of greater magnitude in patients with pre-eclampsia and were more pronounced in the leucocytes. The changes in blood pressure mirrored those in leucocyte sodium in both pre-eclamptics and controls. These data suggest that the excessive blood pressure changes in pre-eclampsia might be related to the changes in cell ionic content (AU)