title: Changes of resistance to activated protein C in the course of pregnancy and prevalence of factor V mutation.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in activated protein C (APC) anticoagulant activity during pregnancy and determine whether changes in APC could contribute to thrombosis in the placental bed in preeclampsia. We measured APC anticoagulant activity in 150 women with a normal pregnancy and 50 women with preeclampsia. There was a significant reduction in the mean APC sensitivity ratio (APC-SR) during pregnancy (p<0.001). APC resistance in preeclampsia was significantly higher than in normal pregnancy (p<0.01). Amongst women with APC resistance the presence of the factor V Leiden mutation was significantly higher in the preeclampsia group than in the normal pregnancy group (p<0.01). It seems that both factor V Leiden mutation and APC resistance may be associated with the development of preeclampsia. These results suggest that APC resistance may be an important mechanism underlying placental bed pathology in pregnancy and may be associated with an increased tendency to develop preeclampsia in some women. Assay of APC resistance and factor V Leiden mutation should be performed in women with preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mimuro
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lahoud
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beutler
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trudinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D005165:Factor V / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011486:Protein C / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D011486:Protein C; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C091963:activated protein C receptor; C095381:factor V Leiden; D005165:Factor V