The Influence of Normotensive Pregnancy and Pre‐Eclampsia on Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme

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Abstract
Serum angiotensin‐converting enzyme (SACE) levels were determined in normotensive pregnant subjects and patients with pre‐eclampsia in the third trimester of pregnancy and 5 days, 3 and 6 months after parturition, and also in the first and second trimester in the normotensive group. SACE levels were reduced during pregnancy and 5 days after delivery in the normotensive subjects compared with the levels 3 and 6 months after delivery and to the non‐pregnant control subjects. After correction for plasma volume expansion, SACE was reduced in first and second trimester only. In pre‐eclampsia both SACE and corrected SACE were significantly lower in third trimester and 5 days after parturition than 3 and 6 months after delivery and in non‐pregnant control subjects. The reason for the reduced level of SACE in first and second trimester during normal pregnancy is not known. The low SACE levels in pre‐eclampsia may be a secondary phenomenon due to a decreased placental synthesis without primary importance for the blood pressure regulation.