A study of maternal plasma beta-endorphin in pre-eclamptic women during labour

This prospective study was undertaken to determine the maternal plasma beta-endorphin levels in pre-eclamptic women during labour and to explore any correlation between the levels and the severity of pre-eclampsia. A total of 50 primiparous women at term were recruited over a period of 5 years. Twenty-five with pre-eclampsia and 25 healthy women considered as a control group. The mean concentration of maternal plasma beta-endorphin in pre-eclamptic group (22.73+/-8.02 pmol/l) was significantly lower (p<0.001) than that of the control group (48.38+/-5.94 pmol/l). A highly significant (p<0.001) negative correlation was found between maternal plasma beta-endorphin levels and both systolic and diastolic blood pressures in pre-eclamptic group.