[Radioimmunoassay of plasma endothelin in maternal and fetal umbilical cord vein in pregnancy induced hypertension].

Endothelin (ET) level was measured in 48 cases of normal pregnancies and in 29 cases of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The results indicate that the difference of ET values between maternal and fetal umbilical cord vein was nonsignificant in normal pregnancy. Though a slight increase in maternal ET level was found in mild and moderate PIH, however the difference was nonsignificant when compared with normal pregnancy. ET increased significantly in plasma of patients with severe PIH. ET levels of fetal umbilical cord vein in different groups showed no much change. It suggests that ET increasing in plasma of patients with PIH may play a role in pathogenesis of PIH.