Objective: To study the association of plasma von willebrand factor (vWF) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH).
Methods: Plasma vWF and ET-1 were studied by ELISA method and immunoradiological method respectively in 36 patients with PIH, 18 normal pregnant women and 19 normal non-pregnant women.
Results: Circulation levels of vWF and ET-1 were increased with increasing severity of the PIH. In mild PIH patients, the levels of plasma vWF [(135.9 +/- 30.9)%, (P > 0.05)] weren't significantly higher than those in healthy pregnant women [(131.6 +/- 39.2)%, (P > 0.05)], but the levels of ET-1 [(63.7 +/- 4.8) pg/L] were significantly higher than those in healthy pregnant women [(47.1 +/- 4.7) pg/L, (P < 0.01)]. There were significant differences between groups of moderate-severe PIH [vWF (174.4 +/- 35.4)%, ET-1 (92.6 +/- 19.1) pg/L]. There was a positive correlation between the plasma vWF level and ET-1 level.
Conclusion: The results suggested that plasma vWF and ET-1 concentration could be used as indicators for the severity of PIH.