Renin-angiotensin system in pregnant South African blacks

Plasma renin activity was measured in the arterial blood, peripheral venous blood, uterine venous blood and in the urine of pregnant South African Blacks, 14 normotensives and 19 with specific hypertensive disease. In addition renin activity was measured in the umbilical venous blood of the babies delivered by Caesarean section of these women. The renin activity was significantly lower in the blood of the specific hypertensive disease subjects than in the normotensives, but significantly higher in the urine of the hypertensive disease cases. Renin activity of the babies of the hypertensive and control subjects did not differ significantly.S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 302 (1974)