Objective: Our aim was to determine the biological investigation of prostacyclin in preeclamptic women seen reduced endothelial vasodilatation by non-invasive technique in vivo.
Methods: Using a high resolution ultrasound transducer, diameters of brachial arteries were determined after reactive hyperemia in 15 non-pregnant, 20 normotensive pregnant and 20 preeclamptic women. The concentrations of 6-keto-prostaglandin F 1alpha (6keto-PGF 1alpha) in plasma and the concentrations of adenosine-3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in platelets and serum were measured among the groups.
Results: Flow-mediated vasodilatation at 1 min after reactive hyperemia was higher in normotensive pregnant than in the non-pregnant or preeclamptic women. The plasma concentration of 6 keto-PGF 1alpha as well as the serum concentration of cyclic AMP were lower in preeclamptic than those in normotensive pregnant women. The increase in cyclic AMP in the presence of a prostacyclin analogue in platelets was seen at similar levels in all three groups.
Conclusion: From these results, the concentrations of prostacyclin in plasma and cyclic AMP in serum might be low possibly due to reduced production of prostacyclin in preeclamptic women seen reduced endothelial function.