Renin, Aldosterone, and Serum-Converting Enzyme Activity during Normal and Hypertensive Pregnancy

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Abstract
Plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone and serum-converting enzyme activity were measured in 13 normotensive pregnant women in 3 sequential periods: 19-21, 29-31 and 38-40 wk of gestation. The converting enzyme activity was also measured in a group of 6 women with hypertensive pregnancy and an age-matched control group of 35 normal nonpregnant women. Plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone values were both significantly elevated in the 3 periods of pregnancy, but plasma aldosterone levels were relatively lower during the 1st two periods. This could be secondary to depressed aldosterone secretion by intravascular volume expansion. The serum-converting enzyme activity did not change during pregnancy, and the mean values (1.02 .+-. 0.27 U) were lower than those found in the control group (1.23 .+-. 0.26 U). Similar low values were found in the hypertensive pregnancy group (1.11 .+-. 0.35 U). The converting enzyme apparently is not a limiting factor in the conversion of angiotensin nor does it contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of hypertensive pregnancy.