Objective To evaluate levels of endothelin (ET) and ?-human chorionic gonadotropin (?-hCG) and the relationship between them in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension(PIH), and to investigate the role of ET and ?-hCG in the pathogenesis of PIH. Methods ET and ?-hCG serum levels of 30 patients with severe PIH, 20 normal term pregnant women and 20 nonpregnant health reproductive age women were determined by radioimmunoassay. Results ET and ?-hCG levels were significantly higher in patients with severe PIH than those in two control groups(P0 05). Conclusions The increased levels of ET and ?-hCG as well as their positive correlation suggested that the dysfunction of the placental cells may be associated with the endothelial cell damage in severe PIH patients.