Evaluation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia with and without intrauterine growth retardation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate maternal serum angiotensin I, angiotensin II and aldosterone level, plasma renin activity, angiotensin converting enzyme activity in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia with and without intrauterine growth retardation. The study was carried out on 26 patients with singleton pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia (group P) and 12 preeeclamptic patients with preeclampsia complicated by intrauterine growth retardation (group PI). The control group consisted of 18 healthy normotensive patients with singleton uncomplicated pregnancies, without any renal, heart and vascular diseases and normal laboratory tests (group K). Decreased angiotensin I level and decreased plasma renin activity in maternal blood in preeclamptic patients were found to be lower in comparison with the control group. Decreased plasma angiotensin II levels in maternal blood in preeclamptic patients were found to be lower in comparison with the control group. Maternal aldosterone levels were lower in both study groups in comparison with the healthy controls. Elevated serum angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in preeclamptic patients without IUGR was found to be higher in comparison with the healthy controls and with the preeclamptic patients with IUGR. Our results and other reports point out the significant role of RAAS activity in the pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia.