Plasma cyclic GMP concentrations and their relationship with changes of blood pressure levels in pre-eclampsia

One of the possible mechanisms responsible for pre-eclampsia is a loss of efficiency of the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway with subsequent inactivation of the guanylyl cyclases of the vascular smooth muscle cells. As a result there should be a decrease in plasma cyclic 3'-5' guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) concentrations in pre-eclampsia. We assessed the behavior of this nucleotid in the plasma of pre-eclamptic women.

Sixteen pre-eclamptic women, 16 normotensive pregnant women matched for gestational age and six nonpregnant controls were investigated. Arterial blood pressure was recorded at inclusion time and then once-a-day until the fourth day after delivery concomitantly with the collection of blood samples for determining plasma cGMP, atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP), creatinine, uric acid and platelet counts. Also 24 h urines were simultaneously collected to calculate renal clearance of cGMP.

Before the initiation of antihypertensive treatment, plasma cGMP levels were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in pre-eclampsia women as compared both to pregnant normotensive controls and nonpregnant women (7.02 +/- 0.9 versus 4.8 +/- 0.76 versus 1.93 +/- 0.15 pmol.ml-1, p < 0.01). Under antihypertensive treatment, cGMP levels decreased significantly (p < 0.05) to 5.48 +/- 0.9 pmol.ml-1. The increase of plasma cGMP was associated with high ANP levels; the likelihood that a renal impairment could account for an increase in plasma cGMP was ruled out because the clearance of creatinine was not impaired. Similarly the possibility of a significant linear correlation between cGMP levels and blood pressure values or biological data was excluded in these women.

Plasma cGMP concentrations are increased in pre-eclampsia. They decrease to control values when blood pressure returns to normal values; they indicate enhanced guanylyl cyclase activation by ANP and additional factors, but cannot be considered as a direct index of the severity of pre-eclampsia.