Objective: Etiology and pathogenesis of renal changes in pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) remain somewhat controversial. Reducing the uterine perfusion leads to the development of systemic hypertension in animal models. Aim of this study was to investigate the effect of systemic hypertension on the kidney during pregnancy.
Material and methods: A rat model was used and the degree of the renal changes was quantified by morphometry. Normotensive pregnant and virgin animals served as a control.
Results: Hypertensive animals showed a decrease of the intravascular space in comparison to the cellular component. This difference was significant not only in pregnant (p = 0.0026) but also in virgin (p = 0.001) animals.
Conclusions: These findings indicate that renal changes are usually found in normotensive pregnancies, while PIH strongly aggravates these changes.