Abstract
In this study, urinary kallikrein quantity (UKQ) and activity (UKA) were measured by the kallikrein direct RIA and kininogenase activity with human low molecular weight kininogen in 32 non pregnant women, 20 normal pregnant women and 18 patients with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) in third trimester. There was a significant difference (p<0.001) in UKQ between PIH patients (n=18, 22.5±3.3μg/day, mean±SE) and non pregnant women (n=32, 64.0±6.3μg/day). Also, there was a significant difference (p<0.001) between PIH patients and normal pregnant women (n=20, 68.1±10.1μg/day). UKA of PIH patients (n=18, 82.6± 13.6μg/min/day) was significantly (p<0.0001) lower than non pregnant women (n=32, 496.2+57.2μg/min/day), and significantly (p<0.001) lower than normal pregnant women (n=20, 319.5±48.1μg/min/day). UKA of normal pregnant women was significantly (p<0.05) lower than non pregnant women.
These data suggest that there may be renal damage and renal kallikrein-kinin system may be damaged in PIH patients.