To discuss the relationships between gestational women serum levels of adiponectin, endothelin (ET)-1 and nitrogen monoxide (NO) and hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy(HDCP).

From June 2007 to May 2008, blood samples were obtained from 62 pregnant women with hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (20 gestational hypertension, 20 mild preeclampsia, 19 severe preeclampsia, and 3 eclampsia) and 20 normal pregnant women served as control. Informed consent was obtained from all participates. The serum levels of adiponectin, endothelin-1 were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the level of nitrogen monoxide was determined by the method of nitric acid recovery.

The serum levels of adiponectin, nitrogen monoxide in normal, gestational hypertension, mild preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia and eclampsia groups were gradually declined, but the serum levels of endothelin-1 in those groups were gradually increased. There had significant difference of the serum levels of adiponectin, endothelin-1 and nitrogen monoxide between preeclampsia, eclampsia group and gestational hypertension, control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). There had significant difference between serve preeclampsia group and mild preeclampsia group (P<0.05). There had no significant difference of serum level of adiponectin between eclampsia group and serve preeclampsia group (P>0.05), but had significant difference of endothelin-1 and nitrogen monoxide. However, no significant difference was found between the gestational hypertension and control group (P>0.05). There was positive correlation between the serum level of adiponectin and nitrogen monoxide (r=0.619, P<0.01), and there was inverse correlation between the serum level of adiponectin and endothelin-1(r=-0.571, P<0.01) in the preeclampsia and eclampsia group. There was inverse correlation between the serum level of adiponectin and blood pressure(r=-0.516, P<0.01; r=-0.474, P<0.01).

The decrease of serum level of adiponectin may effect the vasomotor functions and play a role in the genesis of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy.