Plasma angiotensin II levels in women with severe preeclampsia under magnesium sulfate regimen

Abstract

The role of Renin-Angiotensin-System (RAS) in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and eclampsia is still unclear. Our aim was to investigate plasma angiotensin II concentration [Ang II] in women with normotensive pregnancies (NP, n = 22) and severe preeclampsia in use of magnesium sulfate (SPE, n = 29). Despite no difference between the groups (SPE: 47.8 pg/ml vs NP: 39.7 pg/ml, p = 0.195), lower maternal age (p = 0.007) and primigravida (p = 0.028) were associated with lower [Ang II]. Plasma [Ang II] increased over the 24 h of magnesium sulfate administration (r = 0.48, p = 0.009). Our findings suggest that RAS may be involved with the mechanism of magnesium protection against eclamptic seizure.

Keywords: Angiotensin; Magnesium; Preeclampsia; Seizure.