Underlying disorders associated with severe early-onset preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine whether patients with severe early-onset preeclampsia have hemostatic or metabolic abnormalities that are associated with a tendency to vascular thrombosis.


METHODS
A total of 101 patients with a history of severe early-onset preeclampsia were tested at least 10 weeks post partum for the presence of hyperhomocysteinemia (methionine loading test), protein C, protein S, and antithrombin III deficiency, activated protein C resistance, lupus anticoagulant, and immunoglobulin G and/or M anticardiolipin antibodies.


RESULTS
Of the 101 patients, 39 (38.6%) had chronic hypertension. Of the 85 patients tested for coagulation disturbances, 21 (24.7%) had protein S deficiency. Of the 50 patients tested for activated protein C resistance, 8 (16.0%) were positive. Of the 79 patients tested for hyperhomocysteinemia, 14 (17.7%) had a positive methionine loading test. Finally, 95 patients were tested for anticardiolipin antibodies; 27 (29.4%) had detectable immunoglobulin G and/or M anticardiolipin antibodies.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with a history of severe early-onset preeclampsia should be screened for protein S deficiency, activated protein C resistance, hyperhomocysteinemia, and anticardiolipin antibodies, since these results may have an impact on counseling for and pharmacologic management in future pregnancies.
D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000097:blood; D020152:Antithrombin III Deficiency; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011486:Protein C / Q000378:metabolism; D018455:Protein S Deficiency / Q000150:complications; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications
D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D011486:Protein C; D006710:Homocysteine