Increased placental production of leukotriene B4 in gestational hypertension.

Production of some lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase derivatives of arachidonic acid was measured in placental tissue obtained from women with gestational hypertension and with normal pregnancies. The levels of leukotriene B4 were about five times higher in placentas from hypertensive women and also raised thromboxane A2 and reduced prostaglandin E2 levels were observed. Prostacyclin production was lowered only in women with more severe hypertension, in association with the highest measured levels of leukotriene B4 and thromboxane A2. It is suggested that increased placental levels of leukotriene B4 and thromboxane A2 appear already in mild gestational hypertension, while depression of prostacyclin may occur only at more severe stages of gestational hypertensive disease.