Coagulation and fibrinolysis in smoking and nonsmoking pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of smoking during pregnancy on coagulation and fibrinolysis.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study.


METHODS
A teaching hospital in Heerlen, The Netherlands.


RESULTS
Parameters of coagulation activation increased significantly with gestational age. The values presented are median values. Prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 increased from 0.8 to 2.5 nmol/l in the nonsmoking group of pregnant women and from 1.0 to 1.8 nmol/l in the smoking group. Thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT) levels increased from 2.2 to 9.9 micrograms/l in the nonsmoking group and from 3.1 to 8.5 micrograms/l in the smoking group. Parameters of fibrinolysis showed a different picture. Plasminogen levels in both groups rose significantly in the first half of gestation reaching a plateau in the second half. The alpha 2-antiplasmin levels remained constant in both groups, although the smokers started with significantly higher levels: 119 versus 105% in the nonsmokers. The D-dimer levels rose significantly in both groups: from 278 to 847 micrograms/ml in the nonsmokers and from 215 to 520 micrograms/ml in the smokers. They were significantly lower in the smoking group from the 11th up to the 40th weeks. The D-dimer/TAT ratio was significantly higher in the nonsmokers.


CONCLUSIONS
In smoking pregnant women the activated coagulation process was not counter balanced by an adequate increase of fibrinolysis which was the case in the nonsmokers.
Mercelina-Roumans
P E
PE
Department of Gynaecology, De Wever Hospital, Heerlen, The Netherlands.
Ubachs
J M
JM
van Wersch
J W
JW
D000328:Adult; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000378:metabolism; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000502:physiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D010958:Plasminogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood*; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism
D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; C046193:antithrombin III-protease complex; C036309:fibrin fragment D; D000990:Antithrombin III; D010958:Plasminogen; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases