Role of 5-hydroxytryptamine in toxaemia of pregnancy.

5-HT concentration in blood of 24 randomly selected pregnant women presenting with signs and symptoms of toxaemia of pregnancy were estimated and compared with 30 normal pregnant women. As such 5-HT level increases with the progress of pregnancy and in toxaemia group in comparison to normal pregnancy. A change in the degree of oedema from moderate to severe could bring a statistically significant change in blood pressure and serum 5-HT level. Increased 5-HT plays a role in toxaemia as well as in normal pregnancy and some of the toxic effects observed in toxaemia of pregnancy are due to the effects of 5-HT.