Urinary 19-nor-deoxycorticosterone and deoxycorticosterone in hypertensive disease of pregnancy

Normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia are associated with water and sodium retention. Therefore various mineralocorticoids have been evaluated in normal and abnormal pregnancies. This study reports the urinary free 19-nor-deoxycorticosterone (19-nor-DOC) and deoxycorticosterone (DOC) levels in normal pregnancy and in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension. Levels of 19-nor-DOC and DOC were not significantly different between normal patients in the third trimester and women with pregnancy-induced hypertension at a comparable gestational age. The urinary excretion of 19-nor-DOC in pregnancy was noted to be significantly lower than that previously reported in normal male volunteers. There was a positive correlation between 19-nor-DOC excretion and increasing gestational age. These data are compatible with the view that 19-nor-DOC may not play a role in pregnancy-induced hypertension. However, a larger study of primigravid women, with and without, pre-eclampsia is needed to confirm this finding.