Proteolysis and antiproteolysis associated with toxemia of pregnancy

Ten pregnancy toxemia patients, 10 pregnant patients with essential arterial hypertension and 12 normal pregnant women were studied between the weeks 37 and 40 of gestation. From them blood samples were obtained 24 hours before and 24 hours and three months after the delivery. In these samples proteolytic (P) and antiproteolytic (AP) activities and alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1-AT) concentration were determined. The P and the AP were measured by hydrolysis of BAPNA, and the A1-AT by radial immunodiffusion. The most interesting results were observed 24 hours before the delivery. Toxemic patients presented increase of P and AP, and hypertensive patients diminution of A1-AT when compared with normal controls. These results demonstrated that in toxemia and essential hypertension during pregnancy maladjustments in mechanisms of serum proteolysis and antiproteolysis, perhaps related with the activation of complement, clotting and circulating immune complexes formation systems, exist.