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In the human pregnant state a high molecular weight form of angiotensinogen (HM r A) is present in significant quantities in addition to the usual low molecular weight angiotensinogen (LM r A). In a previous study involving a small number of white women, it was found that women who had developed pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) had significantly higher levels of plasma HM r A. It has been determined that there are five isoforms of HM r A. The objectives of this study were to expand the previous study with the inclusion of black women and to determine which isoform(s) of plasma HM r A are elevated in PIH. Plasma LM r A and HM r A were quantitated in 24 normotensive pregnant women and 65 women with PIH. The PIH group had higher levels of HM r A and somewhat lower levels of LM r A than the normotensive group. The HM r A/LM r A ratio was elevated in 47% of the PIH group. The five isoforms of HM r A were quantitated in plasma from 10 white women with PIH, 10 black women with PIH, and 6 normotensive pregnant white women. Half of both the white and black women with PIH had an elevated HM r A/LM r A ratio. The relative proportion of the HM r A isomers was similar in all groups. These studies show that half the women with PIH have a distinct abnormality in their renin angiotensin system. Both white and black women show this abnormality. In those women who have an elevated total HM r A, all five isoforms of HM r A are equally elevated. Am J Hypertens 2000;13:221-225