The effect of treatment on endothelin-1 concentration and mean arterial pressure in preeclampsia and eclampsia

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of treatment on endotelin-1 concentration that is considered to have role in etiopathogenesis of eclampsia and preeclampsia. Methods: Nine patients with eclampsia and 12 patients with preeclampsia were included to the study. Endothelin-1 levels were measured before and after magnesium sulfate treatment. After the magnesium sulfate administration, if the blood pressure was still elevated, nifedipine was given. Results: Endothelin-1 levels of preeclamptic patients before and after magnesium sulfate treatment were 16.9 +/- 2.3 fmol/ml and 14.6 +/- 1.9 fmol/ml respectively (P<0.05). The same measurements of eclamptic patients were 18.1 +/- 3.2 and 14.7 +/- 3.4 respectively (P<0.05). The mean blood pressures of preeclamptic patients before and after magnesium sulfate were 125.8 +/- 7.3 mm-Hg, 118.2 +/- 8.7 mm-Hg respectively, and the same measurements of eclamptic patients were 136.0 +/- 12.4 mm-Hg and 123.1 +/- 10.6 mm-Hg respectively (P<0.05, P<0.05). Conclusion: Treatment had been found to have negative effects on endothelin-1 levels that is considered to play an important role on etiopathogenesis of eclampsia and preeclampsia.