Reduced urinary excretion of calcium in pregnancy-induced hypertension: relationship to renal prostaglandin excretion.

Urinary excretion of calcium, sodium, creatinine, proteins and renal prostaglandins (PGE2, 6kPGF1α and serum levels of calcium, sodium, creatinine and albumin were determined in 10 normotensive pregnant women throughout pregnancy and in 30 normotensive pregnant women (NTP) and 30 women with pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia (HTP) and intact kidney function in the third trimester in comparison with 13 nonpregnant control subjects (C). Urinary excretion of calcium was found to be significantly reduced in the HTP group and was correlated with PGE2 excretion (p < 0.01). A weak correlation was detectable in the NTP group, which, however, as in the HTP and C groups, showed a close correlation between urinary calcium and sodium values (p < 0.05). In the NTP group, there was a significant increase in calcium excretion, which might reasonably be regarded as related to increased renal PG activity. © 1990 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.