title: Hypothesis: a central role for platelet activating factor in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.
abstract: The pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia is uncertain, though many mechanisms have been postulated. These include an immune response to fetal or placental antigens, a thromboxane-prostacyclin system imbalance and an increase in levels of or responsiveness to angiotensin. We propose the hypothesis that platelet activating factor (PAF), a mediator of inflammatory and allergic responses, may be an important link between these pathophysiological events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, South Africa.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Hofmeyr
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Sonnendecker
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Atkinson
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013931:Thromboxanes / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D013931:Thromboxanes; D000804:Angiotensin II