Reproductive Hormones and Pregnancy Induced Hypertension Cases in Nigerian Women

Abstract

Investigations were carried out on the association of some reproductive hormones (Estradiol, progesterone, follicle stimulating hormones, Prolactin and Luteinizing hormone), and pregnancy induced hypertension in Nigerian women. The levels of these hormones were determined in 120 patients. 40 of these subjects were normotensive pregnant women, another 40 of them were hypertensive pregnant women tested be to having pregnancy induced hypertension. Another 20 of the subjects were normotensive non pregnant women while the last groups of 20 people were hypertensive non pregnant women who were not users of contraceptives. The mean values of these hormones were determined in the pregnant subjects of 2 nd trimester, 3 rd trimester and 3- 6 days after delivery. Progesterone and Estradiol levels as revealed in the result obtained showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in both normotensive pregnant and hypertensive pregnant women as the pregnancy proceeded from 2 nd to 3 rd trimester. However the level of significance was higher in normotensive pregnant women relative to the hypertensive pregnant women.Prolactin also follow in like manner with significant level of increase as the pregnancy progresses to 3 rd trimester. However Follicle stimulating and Luteinizing hormones decrease insignificantly (P< 0.01) as the pregnancy proceeded to the 3 rd trimester. Values obtained from the results after 3- 6 days of delivery showed progesterone and Estradiol levels decreasing insignificantly, Prolactin increases significantly and FSH and LH increases insignificantly. Our findings indicate that the reproductive hormones are associated with pregnancy induced hypertension, and these might be related with the pathogenesis of pregnancy induced hypertension in Nigerian women.