[Determination of plasma serotonins level in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension]

To determine whether levels of serotonin(5-HT) and 5-hydroxy-indolescetic acid (5-HIAA) play an important role in the pathogenesis of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH).

Maternal venous blood were collected from 60 women with PIH and 40 normotensive pregnant women in third trimester as control, and umbilical venous blood were collected from 38 newborns in each groups. Plasma and platelet 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels were measured by spectrophotometry.

The mean 5-HT level was (54.16 +/- 10.13) nmol/L and 5-HIAA was (43.62 +/- 6.37) nmol/L in maternal plasma, while they were (50.23 +/- 7.83) nmol/L and (41.73 +/- 8.61) nmol/L in umbilical plasma respectively in the normotensive group. The mean 5-HT was (86.24 +/- 14.37) nmol/L and 5-HIAA was (62.37 +/- 8.34) nmol/L in maternal plasma of patients with PIH. While the mean 5-HT was (71.56 +/- 10.13) nmol/L and 5-HIAA was (62.37 +/- 11.37) nmol/L in umbilical plasma in PIH group. 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels in maternal and umbilical blood of PIH groups were significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01).

The markedly elevated plasma 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels might be caused by the increased release of 5-HT by platelet. The result showed that elevated levels of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in patients with PIH might take part in the pathogenesis of PIH.