Serum fibrin (-ogen) degradation products (FDP) in toxaemia of pregnancy

ABSTRACT

The relationship between the levels of FDP in the serum, blood pressure and the severity of other features of toxaemia of pregnancy were studied in 42 patients with pregnancy-associated hypertension and/or pre-eclampsia (PE). Serum FDP levels were found to be elevated in 88 per cent of cases but not related to the severity of the clinical manifestations of toxaemia in pregnancy. It was elevated in cases with normal systolic blood pressure as well as in cases with no proteinuria. Subsequent serum FDP concentrations fell to normal along with the treatment in all cases. Serum FDP determination was suggested to include in investigation of severe cases of PE as a sensitive index for the diagnosis as well as for the assessment of response to treatment.