The effects of posture on abnormalities of forearm venous tone in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension

1. Forearm venous tone was measured in the left lateral supine position and in response to passive leg elevation in a group of women with pregnancy-induced hypertension and compared with a group of normotensive pregnant women and a group of non-pregnant women. 2. The women with pregnancy-induced hypertension were venoconstricted in the supine position compared with the normal pregnant women (P less than 0.002). There was no difference in forearm venous tone between the women with pregnancy-induced hypertension and the non-pregnant women. 3. In response to passive leg elevation the women with pregnancy-induced hypertension venodilated (P less than 0.002) whereas there was no change in forearm venous tone in the normotensive pregnant women and the non-pregnant women. There was no change in blood pressure in any of the women after 35 min of leg elevation. 4. These results demonstrate that the abnormal venous vasoconstriction that occurs in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension in the supine position is corrected by passive leg elevation, a manoeuvre which leads to an increase in central blood volume.     

Chronic effects of pindolol on the arterioles, large arteries, and veins of the forearm in mild to moderate essential hypertension

The effects of pindolol were studied on the large arteries, arterioles, and veins of the forearm in 13 patients with essential hypertension after 12 weeks of dosing. The methods used were pulsed Doppler velocimetry of the brachial artery and strain gauge mercury-in-silicone rubber plethysmography of the forearm. Compared with placebo baseline values, chronic pindolol significantly decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P less than 0.001), pulse pressure (P less than 0.001), and pulse rate (P less than 0.05). A significant increase was observed in brachial artery diameter (P less than 0.01), brachial artery blood flow and velocity (P less than 0.001), and forearm arterial flow (P less than 0.001). Forearm vascular resistance and venous tone were decreased (P less than 0.001 and P less than 0.05, respectively), whereas forearm arterial compliance was increased (P less than 0.001). These results demonstrate a dilatory effect on large and small peripheral arteries and on veins of pindolol after chronic dosing, which leads to improvement in the conduction and buffering arterial function of the forearm.     

脐血流监测对妊娠期高血压疾病孕妇妊娠结局的意义探讨

目的探讨妊娠期高血压患者胎儿脐动脉血流阻力指标对围产儿结局的影响。方法用粘度仪检测正常妊娠孕妇及妊娠期高血压孕妇血浆粘度(PV);用离心机检测红细胞压积(HCT)等;统计分析其妊娠中期(20~27周)及妊娠晚期(28~36周),并测定收缩期最大血流速度和舒张期血流速度的比值(S/D)和脉搏指数(PI)、阻力指数(RI)。探讨血液流变学各值与胎儿脐动脉血流指标相关性。结果妊娠高血压组妊娠中、晚期S/D、PI及RI值与正常妊娠组比较均有统计学差异。随着病情进展,中度、重度妊娠高血压组RI、PI值逐渐升高。妊娠期高血压病患者血液HCT、PV等值与胎儿脐动脉血流阻力指标各值呈正相关。结论 HCT、PV对妊娠期高血压病的发生、发展、严重程度及脐动脉血流阻力指标可能有重要影响。多项指标监测妊娠期高血压病患者血液流变学及胎儿脐动脉血流动力学,可提高预测妊娠期高血压症发生、发展及严重程度及其对围产儿预后影响的准确性。     

Effect of cadralazine on brachial artery hemodynamics and forearm venous tone in essential hypertension

Forearm venous tone and brachial artery hemodynamics, including determinations of the arterial diameter and compliance by the use of pulsed Doppler systems, were measured in 16 patients with sustained essential hypertension before and after acute oral cadralazine dosing. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures significantly decreased, whereas heart rate increased. Brachial artery diameter and vascular resistance decreased, respectively, from 0.501 +/- 0.015 to 0.485 +/- 0.015 cm (P less than 0.001) and from 124.8 +/- 13.8 to 99.3 +/- 11.9 mm Hg/ml . sec (P less than 0.01). Blood flow velocity increased (P less than 0.05) but volumic flow, pulse wave velocity, and brachial artery compliance did not change. Forearm venous tone increased but the increase was inversely related to the degree of arteriolar vasodilatation. Our results indicate that, with cadralazine, forearm vascular resistance decreased while forearm blood flow was unchanged, the dilatation of small arteries contrasted with a significant reduction in the diameter of the large brachial artery, and the decrease in blood pressure was associated with a lack of increase in arterial compliance and changes in venous tone. This suggests an overriding influence of the activation of the autonomic nervous system on the action of cadralazine on large arteries and veins.     

综合护理干预在妊娠期高血压护理的效果

目的 分析对妊娠期高血压的孕妇实施综合护理干预的临床效果;方法 将84例妊娠期高血压孕妇随机分为常规干预组与综合护理干预组,前者在治疗过程中配合常规护理措施,后者则是在前者护理的基础上实施综合护理干预,比较两组干预后的血压水平,随访至分娩统计胎儿不良妊娠结局发生率;结果 干预之前,两组孕妇DBP(98.41±15.31)mmHgVS(98.43±15.28)mmHg、SBP水平(158.21±11.57)mmHg VS(158.24±11.54)mmHg无统计学差异(P>0.05),不同干预方案2个月后,而综合护理干预组DBP(82.24±3.15)mmHg、SBP(124.54±8.25)mmHg低于常规干预组(87.14±3.25)mmHg、(139.54±8.56)mmHg,且P<0.05,综合护理组的胎儿不良结局总发生率4.76%低于常规干预组16.67%,且P<0.05;结论 针对妊娠期高血压孕妇,实施综合护理干预,有助于降低其血压水平,降低胎儿不良妊娠结局发生率。     

妊娠期高血压病患者血液流变学与脐血流阻力指标的关系

目的：探讨妊娠期高血压病患者血液流变学与胎儿脐动脉血流阻力指标的相关性和对围产儿结局的影响。方法：用粘度仪检测正常妊娠孕妇及妊娠期高血压病孕妇全血比粘度高切（BVH）、全血比粘度低切（BVL）、全血还原比粘度（BRV）、血浆粘度（PV）;用离心机检测红细胞压积（HCT）;应用彩色多普勒超声检测胎儿脐动脉血流阻力指标,探讨妊娠期高血压病患者血液流变学各值与胎儿脐动脉血流阻力指标各值的相关性。结果：妊娠期高血压病患者血液流变学各值与胎儿脐动脉血流阻力指标各值呈正相关。子痫前期组围产儿结局不良发生率明显高于妊娠高血压组（P〈0.01）及正常妊娠组（P〈0.01）。结论：HCT、BVH、BVL、PV对妊娠期高血压病的发生、发展、严重程度及脐动脉血流阻力指标可能有重要影响。多项指标监测妊娠期高血压病患者血液流变学及胎儿脐动脉血流动力学,可提高预测妊娠期高血压病发生、发展及严重程度及其对围产儿预后影响的准确性。     

妊娠高血压综合征血管内皮生长因子表达与围产儿结局的关系

目的　探讨在妊娠高血压综合征 (简称妊高征 )发病中血管内皮生长因子 (VEGF)对围产儿结局的影响。方法　分别采用酶联免疫吸附试验检测 4 0例妊高征孕妇的静脉血VEGF水平 ,免疫组化检测胎盘及蜕膜组织VEGF及CD34表达情况 ,详细记录围产儿的情况。并以 35例正常孕妇作对照。结果　①妊高征组孕妇的外周血VEGF水平及胎盘组织微血管密度 (MVD)明显低于正常妊娠组 (P <0 . 0 5 ) ;②两组胎盘绒毛滋养叶细胞和蜕膜组织中均有VEGF阳性表达 ,胎盘组织强阳性表达高于蜕膜。轻度妊高征与对照组比较 ,其胎盘组织VEGF强阳性表达的差异无显著性意义 ;而中度和重度妊高征与对照组相比 ,VEGF强阳性表达明显降低 ,其差异有显著性意义 (P <0 .0 5 )。各组孕妇蜕膜组织中的VEGF的表达强度的差异无显著性意义 ;③孕妇外周血VEGF水平与新生儿评分有关 ,与新生儿出生体重 (r =0 . 2 9;P <0 . 0 5 )和胎盘重量 (r =0 34;P <0 . 0 1)均存在直线正相关关系 ;与胎儿胎龄无明显关系。结论　妊高征孕妇血清VEGF水平和胎盘组织MVD降低 ,胎盘组织VEGF表达明显下降 ,VEGF可能对围产儿的结局有一定影响。     

A cross-sectional study of basal platelet intracellular free calcium concentration in normotensive and hypertensive primigravid pregnancies

1. The intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in washed human platelets was measured using the fluorescent indicator, fura-2, in a cross-sectional study of 36 normotensive, primigravid volunteers, 12 in each trimester of pregnancy and a further 12 at 6 weeks post partum. The results were compared with those obtained from 30 normal female volunteers not using oral contraception. 2. The mean basal [Ca2+]i in the platelets of the pregnant women in the first two trimesters (115.6 +/- 6.7 and 120.1 +/- 5.7 nmol/l, respectively) was not shown to differ significantly from that of normal non-pregnant volunteers (112.3 +/- 2.9 nmol/l). However, during the third trimester a significant increase in [Ca2+]i was noted (134.0 +/- 4.9 nmol/l; P less than 0.05), with a return to normal values in the post-partum period (108.2 +/- 6.1 nmol/l). 3. [Ca2+]i was also measured in the platelets of a group of 12 primigravid pregnant women in the third trimester whose pregnancies were complicated by gestational hypertension (pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia). A significant rise in basal [Ca2+]i was noted in the platelets of primigravidae whose pregnancies were complicated by pre-eclampsia (163.6 +/- 8.8 nmol/l) as compared with normotensive, third-trimester primigravidae (P less than 0.02). However, no correlation could be demonstrated between [Ca2+]i and systemic blood pressure.     

超声射频信号技术分析妊娠高血压综合征孕妇颈动脉血管功能的研究

目的采用超声射频信号血管分析技术对妊娠高血压综合征(PIH)孕妇颈动脉内中膜厚度及弹性进行综合评估,并与正常妊娠孕妇比较,观察PIH孕妇颈动脉血管功能的变化.方法PIH孕妇27例(PIH组),平均动脉压108 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa),采用年龄及孕周匹配的30名正常妊娠孕妇作为健康对照组.彩色多普勒超声诊断仪分别启用超声射频信号技术中的血管内-中膜定量技术(QIMT)及血管硬度定量分析技术(QAS)测量两组孕妇颈动脉内-中膜厚度IMT及弹性.结果 PIH组孕妇颈总动脉IMT、脉搏波传播速度(PWV)、等容收缩期到射血期转折点压力(PT1)、动脉增强压(AP)及动脉压增强指数(AIx)分别为(466.84±118.50)μm、(7.09±1.97)m/s、(127.50±14.29)mm Hg、(5.14±3.39) mm Hg及(7.58±8.73)%,健康对照组分别为(386.58±125.79)μm、(5.95±1.11) m/s、(105.89±11.02)mm Hg、(1.98±2.19)mm Hg及(-4.79±7.92)%.两组比较差异有统计学意义(t值分别为2.660、2.660、3.460、3.460、3.460,P值均＜0.01).结论 与正常妊娠孕妇比较,PIH孕妇颈动脉内中膜明显增厚,弹性减低.超声射频信号血管分析技术可敏感地反映弹性血管结构和功能变化.     

生育期癫痫女性妊娠及妊娠结局的临床分析

目的:比较癫痫女性与正常女性妊娠期合并症及妊娠结局。方法:有癫痫病史的孕妇85例为癫痫组,同期无癫痫病史的孕妇170例为正常组,对比分析2组妊娠合并症及妊娠结局。结果:癫痫组自然流产、妊娠高血压综合症(妊高症)、围产期癫痫发作及妊娠期焦虑抑郁的发生率高于正常组(P<0.05);2组胎儿结局差异无统计学意义。结论:癫痫导致部分妊娠合并症发病率的增加,对胎儿结局影响不大。     

叶酸代谢相关酶基因与妊娠期糖尿病、妊娠期高血压、羊水过少及早产的关系研究

目的探讨妊娠期糖尿病、妊娠期高血压、早产、羊水过少与叶酸代谢相关酶基因风险性及基因频率的关系。方法选择在该院接受叶酸代谢相关酶基因检测的孕妇19211例,分为羊水过少组1480例,妊娠期糖尿病组4506例,妊娠期高血压组513例,早产(先兆早产但不伴分娩)组648例,正常组12064例。分析所有研究对象叶酸代谢相关酶基因型分布特点,并利用χ²检验分析各基因型频率及叶酸利用风险性与妊娠期糖尿病、妊娠期高血压、早产、羊水过少的关系。结果在该院受检的孕妇5,10-亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶(MTHFR)基因1298A>C位点AA、AC、CC基因型频率分别为62.75%、32.73%、4.52%,MTHFR基因677C>T位点CC、CT、TT基因型频率分别为44.22%、43.06%、12.72%,甲硫氨酸合成酶还原酶(MTRR)基因66A>G位点AA、AG、GG基因型频率分别为55.30%、37.82%、6.88%。羊水过少组孕妇检出叶酸利用能力高风险的比例增高,且MTHFR 677C>T基因型占比和等位基因频率与正常组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。妊娠期高血压组孕妇检出叶酸利用能力中风险、高风险的比例均高于正常组,MTHFR 677C>T基因型占比和等位基因频率与正常组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。妊娠期糖尿病组孕妇检出叶酸利用能力无风险的比例增高,MTHFR 677C>T基因型占比和等位基因频率与正常组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。早产组孕妇检出叶酸利用能力高风险的比例增高,MTHFR 1298A>C和MTRR 66A>G基因型占比和等位基因频率与正常组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论机体叶酸利用能力风险性越高,妊娠期发生高血压、早产、羊水过少等合并症的概率越大,并且妊娠期高血压对叶酸利用能力的变化更为敏感。MTHFR 677C>T与羊水过少、妊娠期高血压、妊娠期糖尿病的发生有关;早产的发生同时受MTHFR 1298A>C和MTRR 66A>G的影响。     

Hysteresis of the venous pressure-volume relationship in the forearm of borderline hypertensive subjects.

1. The forearm venous pressure-volume relationship was studied in 14 young men with borderline hypertension and in 16 control subjects of the same age and sex. Strain-gauge plethysmography was used to evaluate volume changes after slow increases and decreases in distention, in order to estimate the amplitude of the hysteresis curve. 2. Compared with normotensive control subjects, subjects with borderline hypertension had significantly higher values of blood pressure, heart rate and forearm blood flow. 3. Baseline forearm venous tone was slightly, but not significantly, increased in borderline hypertensive subjects (21.35 +/- 6.53 versus 18.75 +/- 5.95 mmHg ml-1 100 ml-1) and was significantly enhanced after a cold pressor test. The increase was no higher in the borderline hypertensive subjects than in the normotensive control subjects. 4. The area of the hysteresis curve was significantly decreased (7.58 +/- 3.58 versus 10.34 +/- 5.67 arbitrary units; P = 0.0092) as was the extent of isotonic relaxation (creep) (0.28 +/- 0.11 versus 0.39 +/- 0.22 ml/100 ml; P = 0.0098) in borderline hypertensive subjects compared with control subjects. Both parameters were unaffected by the cold pressor test. 5. The study suggests that the viscous component of the venous wall is altered in young patients with borderline hypertension, indicating intrinsic changes in vascular segments which are not exposed to increased intraluminal pressure.     

Effects of nitroglycerin on forearm haemodynamics in patients with cirrhosis

1. Basal forearm haemodynamics were studied by venous occlusion plethysmography in three groups of subjects: group I, healthy controls, group II, patients with cirrhosis age- and sex-matched with group I, and group III, an older group of patients with cirrhosis. Subsequently, responses to sublingual nitroglycerin were measured in group I and II subjects. 2. Controls responded to nitroglycerin with an increase in venous distensibility; group II patients had higher initial venous distensibility but did not respond to nitroglycerin. No other variables in either group were affected by nitroglycerin. 3. Group II and III patients differed in forearm blood flow and vascular resistance and venous distensibility. A significant inverse correlation was found between age and forearm blood flow (r = 0.57, P less than 0.001) in all patients with cirrhosis. 4. We conclude that (a) venous tone is reduced in cirrhosis, possibly as a result of chronic venodilatation; (b) this venodilatation impedes further dilatory response to a small dose of nitroglycerin; (c) cirrhosis is also associated with age-related decreases in peripheral haemodynamics.     

Capillary permeability and extracellular fluid volumes in pregnancy-induced hypertension

1. Capillary permeability was determined by the disappearance rate of Evans Blue dye from plasma in healthy non-pregnant women, normal third-trimester primigravidae and primigravidae with pregnancy-induced hypertension. 2. Extracellular fluid volume was determined from the disappearance curves of injected mannitol in the same subjects and the plasma volume was measured by the Evans Blue dye dilution technique. 3. In normal pregnancy capillary permeability was not altered from that of non-pregnant subjects. Although extracellular fluid volume and plasma volume were increased in normal pregnant compared with non-pregnant women, the distribution of fluid between plasma volume and interstitial fluid volume was unaltered. 4. Women with established pregnancy-induced hypertension had a more rapid Evans Blue disappearance rate and a lower plasma volume than normal pregnant women, independent of the presence of proteinuria. Maternal plasma volume correlated positively and significantly with fetal birth weight in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension, emphasizing the important relationship between maternal plasma volume and fetal outcome. 5. The increased capillary permeability in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension was associated with a reduction in the plasma volume/interstitial fluid volume ratio but a normal extracellular fluid volume, suggesting that the reduced plasma volume did not result from sodium loss but rather from a redistribution of the total extracellular fluid volume. These changes did not differ significantly in subgroups with and without oedema.     

正常妊娠妇女不同孕期血常规参数变化的研究

目的对不同孕期的妊娠妇女血常规检测结果进行分析,为临床诊断建立参考区间提供实验室数据。方法将3 222例正常妊娠妇女按照孕周不同分为孕早期、孕中期和孕晚期,分别对3个孕期的孕妇进行红细胞(RBC)、血红蛋白(Hb)、血细胞比容(HCT)、白细胞(WBC)、中性粒细胞百分比(N%)、淋巴细胞百分比(L%)的测定和统计分析,并与作为对照组的355例非孕健康育龄妇女的相应检测项目进行比较。结果正常妊娠者在不同孕期RBC、Hb、HCT水平均比对照组妇女低,在孕中期下降达孕期最低水平(P0.05),不同孕期之间比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。正常妊娠者WBC、N%均比对照组高,而L%则比对照组低(P0.05)。不同孕期之间WBC参数比较差异也有统计学意义(P0.05)。正常妊娠者血小板(PLT)计数较对照组降低,正常妊娠者在孕晚期达到最低值(P0.05)。结论建立正常妊娠妇女的血常规参数参考区间,有利于对妊娠贫血、感染、妊娠高血压综合征等疾病的诊断。     

胸电生物阻抗法用于妊高征血液动力学分析

目的：探讨无创血液动力学监测在妊娠高血压综合征患者诊断中的应用价值。方法：对由Bioz．com数字化无创血液动力学监测系统所采集的157例妊高征患者、158倒正常孕妇的资料进行回顾分析。结果：两组血液动力学指标除胸液水平（TFC）、左心做功指数（LCWI）、左心做功（LCW）3项无显著差异外（P〉0．05），其余指标均有显著差异（P〈0．01）。结论：较之正常孕妇，妊高征患者的血液动力学指标有明显改变，故它可有效预测妊高征的严重程度，指导医师及时发现异常、处理异常，提高围产医学质量，保障母婴健康。     

妊娠糖尿病合并妊娠高血压与儿童多动综合征相关性研究

目的研究妊娠糖尿病合并妊娠高血压与儿童多动综合征的相关性。方法以行产前检查的970例产妇及其子女为研究对象,根据患者妊娠糖尿病合并妊娠高血压存在情况,将其分为观察组(302例)与对照组(668例)。比较分析两组子女儿童多动症的发生情况、观察组血压情况对多动症发生率的影响及先兆子痫与多动症发生情况的关系。结果观察组儿童多动症发生率明显高于对照组,且男童发生率明显高于女童,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。儿童多动症发生率与妊娠高血压情况成正比。合并先兆子痫患者子女中儿童多动症发生率明显高于无先兆子痫组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论妊娠糖尿病合并妊娠高血压是儿童多动综合征发生的一个危险因素。     

亚临床甲状腺功能减退合并妊娠期高血压对母婴结局的影响

[目的]探讨亚临床甲状腺功能减退(SCH)合并妊娠期高血压对母婴结局的影响.[方法] 选取2014年5月至2016年3月本院收治的90例SCH妊娠期患者,依据妊娠25～28周时测定的血压将患者分为合并组48例(SCH合并妊娠期高血压)及未合并组42例(SCH未合并高血压),另外选取同期本院产检的健康志愿者40例(健康组),比较三组甲状腺功能指标[促甲状腺激素(TSH)、甲状腺激素(FT4)、甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体(TPO-Ab)]、血脂水平[三酰甘油(TG)、血清总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDLC)]、母婴结局及妊娠并发症发生率.[结果] 合并组TSH、TPO-Ab表达水平较未合并组、健康组明显增高,FT4降低,合并组TG、TC、LDLC表达水平最高,未合并组次之,健康组最低,组间两两比较有统计学意义(P<0.05);合并组母婴不良结局总发生率47.92％及妊娠并发症总发生率31.25％最高,未合并组次之(16.67％、11.90％),健康组最低(2.50％、0.00％),组间两两比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).[结论]SCH与妊娠期高血压密切相关,考虑可能与血脂代谢异常有关,SCH合并妊娠期高血压患者的不良母婴结局总发生率较单一疾病及健康孕产妇明显增高.     

Plasma catecholamines in pregnancy induced hypertension

Increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system has been implicated in the genesis of early hypertension in young people. Studies in pregnancy allow observations to be made on evolving, recently established and resolving hypertension in the human. We describe the results of two studies involving women who developed hypertension during pregnancy. In the first study, plasma concentrations of noradrenaline and adrenaline were measured in 17 women with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and 17 normotensive pregnant control subjects. Plasma noradrenaline (nmol/l) was lower in the PIH group compared with control patients in both semi-recumbent (1.11 +/- 0.53 vs 1.98 +/- 0.96, P less than 0.001) and standing positions (1.31 +/- 0.65 vs 2.57 +/- 1.27, P less than 0.005). Five days post partum, plasma noradrenaline had risen in the PIH group compared with pregnant values in semi-recumbent (1.65 +/- 1.0 vs 1.11 +/- 0.52, P less than 0.05) and standing positions (2.46 +/- 1.5 vs 1.31 +/- 0.65, P less than 0.05). In the normotensive patients plasma noradrenaline did not differ between post partum and pregnant values (1.51 +/- 0.73 vs 1.98 +/- 0.96 semi-recumbent; 2.00 +/- 1.16 vs 2.57 +/- 1.7 standing). Logarithmic transformation of the noradrenaline concentration data resulted in a significant (P less than 0.02) negative correlation with diastolic blood pressure in the pregnant patients but not post partum. Plasma adrenaline concentration was the same in both groups. In the second study, plasma concentrations of noradrenaline and adrenaline were measured sequentially through pregnancy in five women who developed PIH and five control subjects who remained normotensive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Endothelium-derived prostacyclin: effect of serum from women with normal and hypertensive pregnancy.

1. Pregnancy-induced hypertension (or pre-eclampsia) is characterized by vasoconstriction, platelet aggregation and altered capillary permeability, implying disordered endothelial function and/or structure. Serum from women with pregnancy-induced hypertension has been reported by others to be cytotoxic to endothelial cells in vitro. We hypothesized that such serum contains a factor that limits the ability of endothelial cells to produce and/or release prostacyclin. 2. Prostacyclin production by intact and damaged cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells was measured after incubating these cells with serum from non-pregnant and normal pregnant women and women with pregnancy-induced hypertension. Confluent human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayers (intact and damaged) were incubated with sera for 24 h at 37 degrees C followed by 1 h of incubation with added thrombin (stimulated production) or media (basal production). Supernatants were then collected for measurement of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha by radioimmunoassay. 3. Basal production of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha was greater in response to serum from non-pregnant women than to that from pregnant women. Within each group, sub-lethally damaged cells had a similar basal production of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha to that of intact cells. 4. Basal production of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha by intact or damaged cells incubated with sera from normal pregnant women and from women with pregnancy-induced hypertension was similar. 5. In all groups the addition of thrombin to intact endothelial cells increased 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha production approximately 15-30-fold over basal levels, but only three- to five-fold in damaged endothelial cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)