title: Prostacyclin-like, and kallikrein activity of amniotic fluid in pre-eclampsia.
abstract: Amniotic fluid from patients with pre-eclampsia was compared with samples obtained from normotensive controls with respect to the inhibiting effect on platelet aggregation (PGI2-like activity) and activating effect on the plasma kallikrein assay and Russell's viper venom test. After 39 weeks gestation, amniotic fluid from pre-eclamptic patients showed significantly less PGI2-like activity ( p less than 0.01) and significantly lower kallikrein levels (p less than 0.01) than that from normotensive controls. The study suggests that the biosynthesis and release of PGI2-like activity and kallikrein may be impaired in pre-eclampsia. In view of the association of pre-eclampsia with intravascular clotting, the highly significant reduction of PGI2-like activity seems important and appears to warrant a clinical trial of prostacyclin administration in this disorder.
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000378:metabolism; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D011464:Epoprostenol; D007610:Kallikreins