Preeclampsia and future cardiovascular risk: A point of view from the clearance of plasma vasoactive amines

Objective: To summarize the reported evidence on the relationship between vasoactive amines and preeclampsia. Methods: A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE. Results: The summarized results are as follows: (1) Menstruation can effectively eliminate vasoactive amines norepinephrine, serotonin and histamine. (2) Pregnancy increases norepinephrine production due to fetal brain development and decreases vasoactive-amine elimination due to amenorrhea. (3) Preeclampsia is associated with a low renal and/or sweating capacity, or in rare cases, with increased norepinephrine production due to maternal pheochromocytoma and fetal neuroblastoma. Conclusion: Preeclampsia is mainly due to decreased excretion of norepinephrine and other vasoactive amines.