title: Reduced serum inhibition of platelet-activating factor activity in preeclampsia.
abstract: We determined in normal nonpregnant (group 1) women, normal pregnant (group 2) women, and patients with preeclampsia (group 3) the serum inhibition of platelet-activating factor activity, the presence of detectable amounts of platelet-activating factor in the blood, and platelet responsiveness in vitro to platelet-activating factor, and to other agonists (adenosine diphosphate, collagen, and ristocetin), and prostacyclin (prostaglandin I2). In patients with preeclampsia (group 3) the serum inhibition of platelet-activating factor activity was significantly lower than that in groups 1 and 2. However, no detectable amounts of platelet-activating factor were observed. The mean values of platelet aggregation induced by platelet-activating factor, adenosine diphosphate, collagen and ristocetin, and the prostaglandin I2-inhibitory concentration of 50% which is inversely correlated with platelet sensitivity to prostaglandin I2, were not significantly different between groups 2 and 3. It is suggested that in preeclampsia the defect in serum inhibitory potential of platelet-activating factor--induced platelet aggregation may contribute to the disturbance in the homeostatic balance between proaggregant and antiaggregant substances.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ginecologia e Ostetricia dell'Università degli Studi di Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benedetto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massobrio
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bertini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbondanza
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Enrieu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tetta
mesh_terms: D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012310:Ristocetin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D012310:Ristocetin; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D003094:Collagen