Aldosterone Secretion Rates in Abnormal Pregnancy1

Abstract

Aldosterone secretion rates were determined in 8 patients with mild pre-eclampsia and in 3 patients with severe pre-eclampsia. In the majority of the mild pre-eclamp-tics the aldosterone secretion was within the range previously established for normal pregnancy. In severe pre-eclampsia, the aldosterone secretion rate was markedly depressed to nonpregnant levels. In 8 subjects with a dead fetus in utero, the aldosterone secretion rate approached normal nonpregnant levels. Administration of 200 mg of progesterone per day to 5 normal pregnant women and 3 women with an intrauterine fetal death led to an increase in the aldosterone secretion rate.