Disequilibrium in control of proteolysis as a cause of pre-eclampsia.

The interrelated systems which control proteolysis may go into disequilibrium during pregnancy so that a renin-like enzyme in the plasma produces effects such as the early clinical manifestations of pre-eclampsia; the overactivity of the reninlike enzyme may in turn lead to undue activity of other physiological systems including those of the coagulation and complement systems.