Plasma prolactin in pregnancy induced hypertension

Prolactin in severe toxemia of pregnancy

Plasma PRL levels were measured in 111 normal pregnant women and in 21 patients with severe toxemia of pregnancy. Twelve of 21 patients with severe toxemia of pregnancy showed high PRL levels in zone A (greater than mean value + 1 S.D. of PRL values in normal pregnancy). These 12 were significantly lower (P less than 0.02) in the Ccre rate, at 70.2 +/- 19.2 ml/min, than 5 toxemia patients (101.4 +/- 26.7 ml/min) in zone B (mean + 1 S.D. approximately mean) and 4 toxemia patients (110.0 +/- 35.3 ml/ml) in zone C (mean approximately mean -1 S.D.). Also, BUN, proteinuria and uric acid levels in zone A patients were higher than in those in zone B and C. However, no correlation was found between PRL levels and mean diastolic and systolic blood pressure. These results suggest that high PRL concentrations in toxemia of pregnancy may be associated with renal dysfunction.

A prospective study of circulating prolactin during primigravid pregnancy

A prospective, cross-sectional study of 164 primigravid patients was conducted to determine the role of prolactin in the pathogenesis of pregnancy induced hypertension. Clinically normal patients had peripheral venous blood sampled from the lateral and recumbent positions monthly in the morning during their last two trimesters in labor and six weeks postpartum. One-third of the patients had 24 hour urine collections. Homologous double antibody radioimmunoassays were performed to determine prolactin levels. The data were analyzed according to pregnancy outcome: pregnancy-induced hypertension or normotensive throughout pregnancy. Acute positional change did not influence prolactin level. Prolactin levels were significantly elevated in the hypertensive outcome group only at 37-39 weeks and were not correlated with sodium excretion. We conclude that circulating prolactin does not play a significant role in pathogenesis of pregnancy-induced hypertension, but perhaps the elevated levels may be reflecting pathophysiologic changes.

Plasma prolactin and puerperal blood pressure

Plasma prolactin concentration was measured on days 1, 3, 6 and 21 of the puerperium in women who had been normotensive or hypertensive during pregnancy. Elevated plasma prolactin concentration due to breast feeding or reduced plasma prolactin concentration due to treatment with bromocriptine was found not to be related to blood pressure changes in the puerperium in women with essential hypertension, pregnancy induced hypertension or in normotensive patients.