Abstract
In 1918 Hoffoauer (1) first proposed that the toxemias of pregnancy may be initiated by dysfunction of the posterior lobe of the hypophysis. This theory was promulgated by Anselmino, Hoffman and Kennedy (2) in 1931 when they demonstrated the existence of antidiuretic and pressor substances in the ultrafiltrate of the plasma of toxemic patients. This report was the impetus that initiated numerous investigations which ever since have either substantiated (3) these findings or repudiated them (4,5). | Hoffman (6), in his general review of this subject in 1951, stated that the existence of antidiuretic and pressor substances in the blood is certain and he is firm in his convictions that the substance ie nothing but posterior pituitary hormone itself. | Hughes and associates (7) investigated this problem in 1953 and tabulated data on antidiuretic activity of plasma from normal and toxemic patients. These investigators concluded that there was no evidence of increased antidiuretic activity in the plasma of toxic patients.