title: Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor and clot lysis time in pregnant patients with antiphospholipid syndrome: relationship with pregnancy outcome and thrombosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) pregnancies are associated with thrombotic obstetric complications, despite treatment. This study evaluated Thrombin Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor (TAFI) levels, TAFI gene polymorphisms and Clot Lysis Time (CLT) in pregnant patients with APS in relation to pregnancy outcome and thrombosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group 1 consisted of 67 pregnant patients with APS. Group 2 included 66 pregnant patients with uneventful term pregnancies and delivery. Patients were sampled during each trimester and at baseline. TAFI antigen and CLT and two polymorphisms of the TAFI gene, Ala147Thr and +1542C/G, were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly prolonged CLT was found at baseline in Group 1. Allele distribution of the TAFI gene polymorphisms was similar in both groups. Basal TAFI and CLT in patients with APS having an adverse or a good obstetrical outcome were similar. Comparison of TAFI and CLT baseline levels in patients with APS with or without previous thrombosis showed no statistical differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with APS have impairment in fibrinolysis evidenced by prolonged CLT at baseline. TAFI and CLT do not seem to be useful as markers of obstetric outcome or risk of thrombosis in patients with APS.
authors.affiliation: Institut Clínic of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Hospital Clínic-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Villarroel, 170. 08036 - Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria Angeles
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martinez-Zamora
authors.forename: Dolors
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tassies
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: Ricard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cervera
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Reverter
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balasch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D001760:Bleeding Time; D025901:Carboxypeptidase B2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D025901:Carboxypeptidase B2