Serum C-reactive protein in pregnancy-induced hypertension

Abstract

We have determined the serum levels of C-reactive protein in 20 non-pregnant women and 66 pregnant women- 20 normal subjects (NP), 16 with mild preeclampsia (MPE), 17 with severe preeclampsia (SPE), six with chronic hypertension plus preeclampsia (CHT+PE) and seven with chronic hypertension (CHT) . There were no significant differences between the non-pregnant women and the NP group. The levels of CRP in MPE, SPE and CHT + PE patients were significantly higher (P < 0.05) as compared to normal pregnancies (NP). There was no significant elevation in the CHT group as compared to NP. We conclude that CRP levels may be important in the pathophysiology of pregnancy-induced hypertension.