Am J Perinatol 1984; 1(4): 285-287
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1000022
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1984 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Plasma Renin Activity after Birth and in the Early Newborn Period

Anthony Hadeed, Sharon R. Siegel
  • Department of Pediatrics, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
04 March 2008 (online)

ABSTRACT

Plasma renin activity (PRA) was studied during delivery in umbilical cord venous blood and serially in the first 48 hours of life. PRA after cesarean section without labor, 15.2 ± 2.3 ng/ml/hr (mean and SEM), was less than after cesarean section with labor, 44.1 ± 8.9 (P <.02), and vaginal delivery, 34.7 ± 4.3 (P <.05). PRA decreased during the first 30 minutes after vaginal delivery from 34.7 ± 4.3 ng/ml/hr to 19.3 ± 3.5 (P <.01); PRA subsequently increased by four hours of life to 38.6 ± 6.7 mg/ml/hr (P <.05) and remained elevated throughout the 48-hour study period. These data show that PRA is stimulated during labor, decreases postnatally, and is again restimulated in the early newborn period.