title: Preeclampsia is associated with a reduced response to activated protein C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Resistance to activated protein C is an inherited mutation of the coagulation factor V gene, a major factor predisposing to thromboembolic events. The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of heterozygote and homozygote activated protein C resistance in women with preeclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Activated protein C resistance and protein C and antithrombin III levels were determined in women (n = 50) with a history of preeclampsia and in controls (50 women with a previous normal pregnancy). The mutation of the factor V gene was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Activated protein C resistance was found in 22% of women with previous preeclampsia compared with 10% among controls. Two women in the previous preeclampsia group had a homozygote mutation of factor V; the others were heterozygous. There was a significant difference in the activated protein C ratio between women with previous preeclampsia and the control group, 2.6 +/- 0.4 versus 3.1 +/- 0.5 (p = 0.04). None of the women had protein C or antithrombin III deficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that activated protein C resistance may be a contributory factor in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Lund, University Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindoff
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ingemarsson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinsson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Segelmark
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thysell
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Astedt
mesh_terms: D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000032:analysis; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D005165:Factor V / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011486:Protein C / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D011486:Protein C; D000990:Antithrombin III; D005165:Factor V