| Abstract: | In this study, urinary kallikrein quantity and activity were measured by the kallikrein direct RIA and kininogenase activity with human low molecular weight kininogen in 32 non pregnant healthy women, 20 normal 3rd trimester pregnant women and 18 3rd trimester hypertension type toxemia patients. There was no significant difference in urinary kallikrein quantity between non pregnant women (n = 32, 64.0 +/- 6.3 micrograms/day, mean +/- SE) and normal pregnant women (n = 20, 68.1 +/- 10.1 micrograms/day). There was a significant difference (p less than 0.001) between non pregnant women and toxemia patients (n = 18, 22.5 +/- 3.3 micrograms/day). There was a significant difference (p less than 0.001) between toxemia patients and normal pregnant women. There was a significant difference (p less than 0.05) in urinary kallikrein activity between non pregnant women (n = 32, 496.2 +/- 57.2 micrograms kinin/day) and normal pregnant women (n = 20, 319.5 +/- 48.1 micrograms kinin/day). There was a significant difference (p less than 0.0001) between non pregnant women and toxemia patients (n = 18, 82.6 +/- 13.6 micrograms kinin/day). There was a significant difference (p less than 0.01) between normal pregnant women and toxemia patients. There were no correlation in both urinary kallikrein quantity and activity between severe type toxemia patients (systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 160mmHg or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 110mmHg) and mild type toxemia patients (160mmHg greater than systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140mmHg and 110mmHg greater than diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90mmHg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) |
