Plasma Renin Activity Levels in Normal and Preeclamptic Pregnancies

Our aims were to determine the potential role of plasma renin activity (PRA) in prediction of preeclampsia, to study the relationship between PRA levels and gestational age, and to evaluate the correlation between PRA and blood pressure findings in preeclamptic pregnancies. PRA levels were measured by RIA in normotensive (n=9) and preeclamptic (n=10) pregnant women in their third trimesters. The mean (±SE) PRA levels in the normal and preeclamptic pregnants were 2.50±0.53 and 2.84±0.89 ng/ml/h, respectively, the slightly higher level in the hypertensive group being statistically non-significant. PRA levels demonstrated a strong, but non-significant correlation with gestational age in the preeclamptic subjects (r=0.56), but there was no relationship between PRA levels and mean blood pressure (MBP) in this hypertensive state. We therefore conclude that PRA level in preeclampsia does not decrease, but slightly increases, when compared with its measurements in normal pregnant subjects, and also that PRA does not contribute to the determination of high blood pressure in pregnancy-induced hypertension.