Plasma platelet aggregating factor and platelet aggregation studies in pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
A plasma platelet aggregation factor (PAF) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of platelet activation in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Similar mechanism may be operative in pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
Coagulation profile and detailed in vitro platelet aggregation with various agonists were studied. PAF was demonstrated by spontaneous aggregation of normal platelets with test plasma. Non-parametric Wilcoxon's rank sum test and Krauskal Wally's one way analysis of variance were applied.


RESULTS
Twenty-two pre-eclamptic patients and 20 normal pregnant controls were studied. Anti-thrombin III levels were within normal range and fibrin degradation products were only border line raised ( > 10 < 40 micrograms/ml) in 14 (65.4%) patients. In vitro platelet aggregation was abnormal in 17 (77.2%) patients. PAF was demonstrable in 10 of 22 (45.5%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Platelet aggregation studies indicated the presence of both activated (hyperaggregable) as well as exhausted (hypoaggregable) platelets in circulation. PAF demonstrable in 45.4% pre-eclampsia patients would suggest its role in the pathogenetic mechanism of platelet activation in this disease.
Ahlawat
S
S
Department of Haematology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Pati
H P
HP
Bhatla
N
N
Fatima
L
L
Mittal
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015539:Platelet Activation; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D010977:Platelet Factor 3; D010978:Platelet Factor 4; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000150:complications; D014914:Whole Blood Coagulation Time
D010977:Platelet Factor 3; D010978:Platelet Factor 4