Plasma brain natriuretic peptide level in pregnant women with pregnancy-induced hypertension

To investigate the involvement of brain natriuretic peptide in the circulation of pregnant women with pregnancy-induced hypertension.

We determined the plasma levels of brain and atrial natriuretic peptides in a cross-sectional study of 36 normal pregnant women and 17 women with pregnancy-induced hypertension.

During normal pregnancy, the plasma brain natriuretic peptide level was similar to that in nonpregnant women, but the plasma atrial natriuretic peptide level in the second trimester was significantly higher than that in nonpregnant women (P < .05). In women with severe pregnancy-induced hypertension, the plasma brain natriuretic peptide level was eight times higher than that in normal pregnant women in the third trimester; the plasma atrial natriuretic peptide level in the same patients was three times higher than that in normal pregnancy. The plasma brain natriuretic peptide level showed a positive correlation with the mean blood pressure (r = 0.62, P < .001).

The present findings suggest that brain natriuretic peptide is increased in the plasma of women with pregnancy-induced hypertension and that brain natriuretic peptide, in concert with atrial natriuretic peptide, participates in maintaining homeostasis of the maternal circulation.