[Urinary proteins during pregnancy in women with and without pregnancy induced hypertension]

To study the excretion of urinary proteins in women at different periods of pregnancy and women with pregnancy induced hypertension.

Urinary proteins (albumin, IgA, IgG, IgM) were measured at random with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 101 normal pregnant women, 25 women with pregnancy induced hypertension and 28 nonpregnant women.

Urinary albumin and IgM levels in women of early pregnancy were significantly higher than those in nonpregnant women (P < 0.05-0.01). Urinary IgG level was also increased during pregnancy. Urinary excretion of albumin, IgA, and IgG, but not IgM excretion was significantly elevated in women with pregnancy induced hypertension compared to normal pregnant women at different gestational ages (P < 0.05-0.01). Urinary IgM level in postpartum period was significantly lower than that in late pregnancy (P < 0.05). Urinary protein excretion increased with gestational age during normal pregnancy, but the changes were not statistically significant. However, the protein excretion was associated with severity of the diseases. Urinary albumin and IgG excretions in hypertensive pregnant women were correlated positively with mean arterial blood pressure.

The change in glomerular filtration in pregnant women with mild to moderate hypertension is reversible. It is important to control blood perssure to avoid impairment of kidney function in pregnancy induced hypertension.