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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Marie Smith, Emeritus Professor John Davison
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Maternal renal hemodynamic adaptation to human pregnancy is one of the most dramatic of all physiologic changes, but the factors that are responsible have remained elusive. In rat pregnancy, there are comparable renal hemodynamic changes, and in this species there is comprehensive evidence that the ovarian hormone relaxin (RLX) is responsible. This study investigated the renal effects of recombinant human RLX (rhRLX) in humans. Eleven volunteers (six male, five female) received intravenous infusions of rhRLX over 5 h at an infusion rate that was chosen to sustain serum concentrations that are comparable to early pregnancy. The renal clearances of inulin and para-aminohippurate were used to measure GFR and renal plasma flow, respectively. Irrespective of gender, renal plasma flow was increased by 47% compared with baseline levels (P < 0.0001), but no significant change was observed in GFR. There were no side effects or adverse reactions of rhRLX given as an intravenous infusion, and the data suggest that RLX indeed may be one of the elusive renal vasodilatory factors in human pregnancy. Further work is necessary to elucidate the complimentary factors that permit the concomitant increase in GFR during pregnancy. Copyright © 2006 by the American Society of Nephrology.
Author(s): Smith MC, Danielson LA, Conrad KP, Davison JM
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
Year: 2006
Volume: 17
Issue: 11
Pages: 3192-3197
ISSN (print): 1046-6673
ISSN (electronic): 1533-3450
Publisher: American Society of Nephrology
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2005090950
DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2005090950
PubMed id: 17035617
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