Objective: The aim of this study was to identify and quantify urinary Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme (ACE) in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Methods: Urine samples were analyzed by Western blot. Patients were classified into: normotensive pregnancy (N); preeclampsia and superimposed preeclampsia (PE+SPE); and gestational hypertension (GH).
Results: Somatic ACE protein expression was higher in PE+SPE compared to N and GH. There was a positive correlation between ACE and urinary protein to creatinine ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressures.
Conclusion: These results indicate ACE overexpression in the urine of preeclamptic patients and suggest that it may be a new marker for the disease.
Keywords: Preeclampsia; angiotensin converting enzyme; hypertensive pregnancy disorder; renin angiotensin aldosterone system.