Soluble urinary somatic angiotensin converting enzyme is overexpressed in patients with preeclampsia: a potential new marker for the disease?

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify and quantify urinary Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme (ACE) in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Methods: Urine samples were analyzed by Western blot. Patients were classified into: normotensive pregnancy (N); preeclampsia and superimposed preeclampsia (PE+SPE); and gestational hypertension (GH).

Results: Somatic ACE protein expression was higher in PE+SPE compared to N and GH. There was a positive correlation between ACE and urinary protein to creatinine ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressures.

Conclusion: These results indicate ACE overexpression in the urine of preeclamptic patients and suggest that it may be a new marker for the disease.