Amniotic fluid platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin as markers of structural abnormalities.
Platelet factor 4 (PF4) and beta-thromboglobulin (BTG) are unique markers of irreversible platelet activation. We measured PF4 and BTG in amniotic fluid from 102 genetic amniocenteses, in which 78 had normal amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels with normal pregnancies, and 24 had high amniotic fluid AFP levels with abnormal pregnancies. PF4 and BTG were significantly higher in the abnormal pregnancy/elevated amniotic fluid AFP group (p < 0.002 in each case) and correlated with AFP expressed as multiples of the median (p < 0.05 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Our results are compatible with passage of PF4 and BTG across fetal membranes and/or enhanced fetal platelet activation in fetuses with structural anomalies and elevated AFP.
Saleh
A A
AA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hutzel Hospital, Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich.
Ozawa
T
T
Isada
N B
NB
Johnson
M P
MP
Dombrowski
M P
MP
Evans
M I
MI
Treadwell
M B
MB
Mammen
E F
EF
D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012044:Regression Analysis; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin / Q000032:analysis*
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin; D010978:Platelet Factor 4