MATERNAL PLASMA PROSTACYCLIN CONCENTRATION IN PRE‐ECLAMPSIA AND OTHER PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS

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Abstract
To study the involvement of antiaggregatory and vasodilatory prostacyclin (PGI2) in various pregnancy complications, the concentrations of 6-keto-PGF1.alpha., a stable hydration product of PGI2, were measured using a specific radioimmunoassay, in plasma samples from 123 women between 22-41 wk of complicated or normal pregnancy. The levels of 6-keto-PGF1.alpha. (mean .+-. SE) in pre-eclampsia (267.0 .+-. 26.6 pg/ml, n = 22), diabetic pregnancy (266.6 .+-. 19.2 pg/ml, n = 21), twin pregnancy (310.7 .+-. 28.2 pg/ml, n = 10), threatened premature labor (285.9 .+-. 23.2 pg/ml, n = 26), placenta previa or placental abruption (248.9 .+-. 24.5 pg/ml, n = 6), hepatosis gravidarum (249.3 .+-. 150.0 pg/ml, n = 3) or in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine fetal growth retardation (296.9 .+-. 34.2 pg/ml, n = 14) or fetal death (267.5 .+-. 20.9 pg/ml, n = 6) did not differ from each other or from the 6-keto-PGF1.alpha. levels in normal pregnancy (266.4 .+-. 15.0 pg/ml, n = 22). The 6-keto-PGF1.alpha. levels bore no relation to the gestational age, maternal drug use (insulin, glucocorticoids, antihypertensive drugs) or to the sex, birth weight or condition of the newborn infant or to the placental weight.