Intraerythrocyte Sodium in Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension. A Longitudinal Study Through Pregnancy, Puerperium and Neonatal Aspects

Abstract

Intracellular electrolyte disorders seem to be related to pregnancy-induced hypertension as well as to essential hypertension. Intracellular Sodium storage could shift Calcium from membrane binding, thus resulting in a depolarization of excitable cells. Periarteriolar myocytes thus can be activated, resulting in the rise in peripheral vascular resistances.

The intracellular electrolyte accumulation could be either due to a genetic intrinsic alteration of membranes or to the action of a circulating inhibitor. Results are reported from 75 pregnancy-induced hypertensive and 140 pregnant controls and 15 cord blood samples obtained from hypertensive and 70 from controls.