OBJECTIVE: Enhanced production of @entity2232 , due to endothelial cell dysfunction has been considered to be the cause of increased plasma levels of @entity2232 in @entity1468 . The present study was aimed at analyzing endothelin-converting-enzyme activity, (which reflect the production rate of @entity2232 ( @entity2232 ) from big @entity2232 (big @entity2232 )), big @entity2232 , and @entity2232 concentrations from @entity1 with @entity1468 compared to normal pregnant @entity1 . Moreover, we analyzed plasma levels of these substances longitudinally throughout normal pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-nine pregnant healthy @entity1 were recruited to the study. Blood samples were obtained at 18, 28, and 38 weeks gestation and six weeks postpartum. Twenty-seven @entity1 with @entity1468 were included. Blood samples were taken at diagnosis (average 35 weeks gestation; range 27-39 weeks) and six weeks postpartum. @entity2232 was analyzed by enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) and big- @entity2232 by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Endothelin-converting-enzyme activity was measured using big @entity2232 as a substrate and @entity12064 as an inhibitor of serum neutral endopeptidase. The amount of @entity2232 generated during one hour was measured by RIA. Mean +/- SEM is given. RESULTS: In normal pregnancy @entity2232 concentrations at 38 weeks and postpartum were increased by 30% (p < 0.01) and 50% (p < 0.001), respectively compared with the second trimester values. Endothelin-converting-enzyme activity did not change. At diagnosis @entity2232 was higher in @entity1 with @entity1468 than in the controls at 38 weeks (0.96 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.64 +/- 0.06 pmol/L; p < 0.001). Likewise, endothelin-converting-enzyme activity was higher in the @entity1468 group (222 +/- 15 vs. 172 +/- 8 pmol ET/ml/h; p < 0.01). This difference remained at six weeks postpartum. CONCLUSION: Our findings imply enhanced @entity2232 production in @entity1468 . The elevated endothelin-converting-enzyme activity postpartum may indicate an inherent @entity409 predisposing to @entity1468 or that @entity1468 may cause irreversible changes in endothelial function.

Endothelin converting enzyme (ECE) activity in normal pregnancy and XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women'] @entity2232 :: ('1906', 'Gene') :: ['endothelin-1', 'Endothelin-1', 'ET-1'] @entity12064 :: ('MESH:D015244', 'Chemical') :: ['thiorphan'] @entity409 :: ('MESH:D008107', 'Disease') :: ['endothelial dysfunction'] @entity1468 :: ('MESH:D011225', 'Disease') :: ['preeclampsia']
@entity1468 :: (MESH:D011225,Disease) :: ['preeclampsia']
