Plasma angiotensin I concentration and serum placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP) activities in puerperal hypertension

Abstract

To elucidate the involvement of angiotensin in puerperal hypertension with and without preeclampsia in the course of prior pregnancy, we measured plasma angiotensin I levels and serum placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP) activities in several puerperal hypertensive patients. Placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP) activities of puerperal hypertensive patients with severe preeclampsia during prior pregnancy were equal to or somewhat lower levels than those in normal puerperal women after a normal pregnancy. However, their angiotensin I levels were higher than those in normal puerperal women after a normal pregnancy. In puerperal hypertensive patients with and without preeclampsia during prior pregnancy, P-LAP activities tended to show much lower levels that those in normal puerperal women, while angiotensin I levels tended to show much higher levels than those in normal puerperal women, respectively. Since serum placental leucine aminopeptidase acts as an angiotensinase via degradation of angiotensin III (A-III), our present data suggest the involvement of angiotensin in puerperal hypertension.