The effect of antihypertensive therapy in preeclampsia on hormonal production of placenta

Objectives: Preeclampsia is a multisystem disorder which complicates 2-5% of all pregnancies and is the second major cause of maternal mortality. The latest researches indicated that antihypertensive therapy with alphamethyldopa may have an effect on the concentration of placental hormones in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of α-methyldopa on levels of inhibin A, activin A in serum and estriol in saliva. Methods: We analyzed 62 pregnant women in third trimester of pregnancy. A venous blood and saliva sample were collected from control (29) and studied group (33). In all patient levels of activin A, inihibin A and estriol were measured by means of two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Results: The mean saliva estriol in control group was 3072.592 pg/ml and in PE group 2198.933 pg/ml (p = 0.4004). The mean activin A concentration in control cases was 568.558 pg/ml and studied cases 890.002 pg/ml (p = 0.0729). Inhibin A in normal pregnancies group was 259.078 pg/ml and in preeclampsia 283.92 pg/ml (p = 0.581). Conclusion: Levels of activin A and inhibin A in serum and estriol in saliva in preeclampsia with antihypertensive therapy did not significantly vary from normal pregnancy.