The impact of platelet functions and inflammatory status on the severity of preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To find out whether there is a correlation between the extent of platelet activation and inflammation and the severity of preeclampsia (PE) in the third trimester of pregnancy.


METHODS
Forty-one women with PE (n = 23 severe, n = 18 mild) and 80 normotensive pregnant (NP) women were included in the study. Their blood samples were obtained and interleukin (IL)-8 and IL-10 levels measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Basal CD61 and CD62P expressions on CD41-positive platelets were analyzed with the use of flow-cytometry. Platelet aggregation was induced by adenosine diphosphate and determined by aggregometry.


RESULTS
CD62P expression was increased in severely preeclamptic women, and the platelet aggregation was decreased in both mildly and severely preeclamptic women in comparison with NP women. However, CD61 expression was similar among the groups. An enhanced inflammatory response was seen in severely preeclamptic women demonstrated by increased levels of IL-8 and decreased levels of IL-10. However, the intensity of platelet activation did not correlate directly with the change in plasma levels of IL-8 and IL-10 in preeclamptic women.


CONCLUSIONS
Platelets may have a role in the inflammatory response in PE. However, the severity of inflammation is found to be independent from the intensity of platelet activation in preeclamptic women. This seems to be related to mechanisms causing alterations of cytokine levels such as IL-8 and IL-10, rather than platelet activation.
Division of Perinatology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey .
Sadik
S
Sahin
Ozlem Bingol
OB
Ozakpinar
Mustafa
M
Eroglu
Aysin
A
Tulunay
Enver
E
Ciraci
Fikriye
F
Uras
Sermin
S
Tetik
D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D015539:Platelet Activation; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; C508609:IL10 protein, human; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D016209:Interleukin-8; D016753:Interleukin-10
Aggregometry; inflammation; interleukins; platelet activation; preeclampsia; severity