The dynamics of renin, angiotensin (1-7) and angiotensin II in severe and moderate preeclampsia

Material and methods. The study comprised 58 pregnant patients of reproductive age at 28- 40 weeks’ gestation. Of the 29 patients in the study group, 11 were diagnosed with severe PE, and the remaining 18 had moderate PE. Twenty-nine women with normal pregnancy were enrolled in the control group. Plasma markers were determined by quantitative enzyme immunoassay using Renin (active) ELISA kits (IBL International GMBH, Germany), Angiotensin 1-7(Ang 1-7) (Cloud-Clone Corp., USA), and Human ANGIIEIA (RayBiotech, Inc., USA). Results. The level of angiotensin II in severe PE (24.0 ± 5.0 pg/ml) was significantly higher than in moderate PE (15.3 ± 1.2 pg/ml; p = 0.046) and in normal pregnancy (14, 7 ± 1.9 pg / ml; p = 0.023). The level of angiotensin (1-7) in severe PE(424.0 ± 16.6 pg/ml) was higher than in moderate PE(361.1 ± 26.7 pg/ml;p = 0.051) and in normal pregnancy (390.7 ± 13.86 pg/ml); p = 0.095. In severe PE, the angiotensin (1-7) / angiotensin II ratio was significantly lower than in normal pregnancy (21.8 ± 3.1 vs. 29.4 ± 2.6 pg/ml, p = 0.049). There were no significant differences in renin concentrations between the study groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion. Severe pre-eclampsia is associated with a pronounced increase in the production of the vasoconstrictor angiotensin II concomitantly with an insufficient increase in the production of angiotensin (1-7). The absence of differences in plasma renin concentrations suggests the need for further studies to clarify the underlying mechanisms and causes of elevated plasma angiotensin II levels in patients with severe and moderate preeclampsia.

angiotensin II, angiotensin (1-8), angiotensin (1-7), pregnancy, pre-eclampsia, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system