[Levels of endothelin and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin and their relationship in patients with pregnancy induced hypertention].

OBJECTIVE

To measure levels of endothelin (ET) and beta-human chorionic gonodotropin (beta-hCG) and analyse the correlation between them in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), as well as to investigate their role in the pathogenesis of PIH.

METHODS

32 patients with PIH were matched with 17 normal term singleton pregnant women. ET and beta-hCG levels of above patients and 14 nonpregnant health reproductive age women were determined by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS

ET and beta-hCG levels were significantly higher in patients with PIH (30.35 +/- 14.52 ng/L and 7.35 +/- 4.86 nmol/L) than that of two control groups (P < 0.05), especially in middle and severe PIH (P < 0.05), but no significant different in mild PIH (P > 0.05), compared with normal pregnant group (20.79 +/- 7.08 ng/L and 4.13 +/- 1.91 nmol/L) and nonpregnant group (19.78 +/- 6.66 ng/L and 0 nmol/L). There was no significant difference of plasma ET levels between normal pregnant and nonpregnant women (P > 0.05). beta-hCG in nonpregnant woman hadn't been determined. We did not find any association between the levels of ET and beta-hCG in normal pregnancy (r = +0.2216, P > 0.05), but significant positive correlation in the patients with PIH (r = +0.5418, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The increased levels of ET and beta-hCG, as well as their positive correlation, suggested that the dysfunction of the placental cells may be associated with the endothelial cell damage in PIH patients.