The Effect of Supine and Lateral Recumbency on Plasma Renin Activity During Pregnancy
- 1 May 1973
- journal article
- other
- Published by The Endocrine Society in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
- Vol. 36 (5) , 991-994
- https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem-36-5-991
Abstract
During pregnancy supine posture is known to decrease renal function when compared to lateral recumbency. To assess the effects of these postural changes on plasma renin activity, 11 pregnant subjects were studied at 37–40 weeks of gestation. In every case plasma renin activity was higher in the supine position than the lateral with a mean increase of 62.3% ± 49.5% (sd) (p < 0.01) of control (lateral) value. This increase occurred despite no change in mean renin substrate concentration (101% ± 17.3% sd). In late pregnancy, during the supine posture, the gravid uterus impairs venous return, decreases effective circulating volume, glomerular nitration rate and renal blood flow and increases plasma renin activity when compared to lateral recumbency. The position of the patient must be considered in studies of renin during pregnancy.Keywords
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