The relation of parathyroid function to pregnancy-induced hypertension

Parathyrin (PTH) and calcitonin were measured with radioimmunoassay in 39 cases of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) in late pregnancy, 76 cases in normal early pregnancy and 278 cases in late pregnancy without PIH. Markedly increased PTH was noted in the women in late pregnancy, indicating the state of secondary hyperparathyroidism. PTH values in the women in late pregnancy with PIH were higher than those in the normal early pregnancy group, but lower than those in the women in late pregnancy without PIH. The difference between PTH values in the PIH group and late pregnancy without PIH group was of statistical significance (P < 0.05), while no significant difference was seen between calcitonin values of the two groups (P > 0.05). The results suggest that the pathogenesis of PIH may be related to the function of parathyroid.