Prostacyclin production in pregnancy induced hypertension and diabetic pregnancy

Abstract

SummaryThough prostacyclin production in the umbilical artery is known to be reduced in pregnancy induced hypertension there is uncertainty about whether this is specific to this condition or merely a secondary result of damage to the placental-umbilical circulation. We therefore studied four groups of women; 13 with normal pregnancies, 7 with mild and 7 with severe pregnancy induced hypertension, and 8 with diabetes. 6-Keto-prostaglandin Fla production in the umbilical artery was measured. The normal and mild hypertensive groups did not differ (P > 0.8) but both the severe hypertensives and those with diabetes had lower prostacyclin levels than the normal patients (P < 0.01 in both cases) and the mild hypertensive patients (P < 0.01 in both cases).Although we have confirmed that there is a prostacyclin deficiency in the umbilical artery in severe pregnancy induced hypertension, it is not specific to this condition as it is also found in diabetic pregnancy. It also does not occur in mild pregnancy induced hypertension. The two alternative hypotheses which could explain this finding are discussed.