[Detection of angiotensin II in the maternal-fetal interface in pregnancy-induced hypertension]

To detect angiotensin II (ANG II) in the maternal blood, umbilical cord blood, and at the maternal-fetal interface in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and explore the etiology of PIH and pathophysiologic mechanism of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the concentration of ANG II in the maternal blood, cord blood, and maternal and fetal placental tissues in 30 women with PIH and 30 with normal pregnancy, and the results were analyzed with independent-sample t test and Pearson correlation analysis.

ANG II level in the maternal placental tissue homogenate showed no significant difference between women with PIH and normal pregnant women (8.51+/- 4.01 vs 7.76+/-3.47 pg/ml, P>0.05), but women with PIH had significantly higher ANG II in the fetal placental tissue (11.82+/-3.92 vs 9.64+/-2.63 pg/ml, P<0.05). ANG II level was significantly higher in the maternal blood of women with PIH than in normal pregnant women (46.44+/-8.48 vs 32.43+/-5.87 pg/ml, P<0.001), but similar in the cord blood (68.83+/-8.68 vs 72.47+/-8.51 pg/ml; P>0.05). A positive correlation was indicated between the cord blood and maternal peripheral blood ANG II levels in women with PIH (r=0.7379, P<0.05).

ANG II in the fetal placental tissue is elevated, and the cord blood and maternal peripheral blood ANG II levels are positively correlated in women with PIH.