Can increased platelet turnover predict progressive hypertensive disease in pregnancy?

ABSTRACT

Platelet activation was assessed in third trimester patients with preeclampsia [n = 12] or chronic hypertensive superimposed with preeclampsia [n = 8] and in healthy pregnant women [n = 8] as control group, by measuring plasma B-thromboglobulin [BTG] in both plasma and urine by [RIA]. The plasma BTG levels differed significantly between patient with preeclampsia [50.1 +/- 10.83 ng/ml. P < 0.01] or chronic hypertension superimposed with preeclampsia [47.6 +/- 11.3 P < 0.01] and the control group [22.5 +/- 4.53 ng/m]. The urinary BTG level increased significantly in preeclamptic patients [33.02 +/- 5.25 ng/ml, P < 0.001] or in chronic hypertensive patients superimposed with preeclampsia [30.1 +/- 4.1 ng/ml, P < 0.001], when compared to control [8.7 +/- 2.48 ng/m]. Plasma BTG in patients with preeclampsia, but not chronic hypertension superimposed with preeclampsia, correlated directly with 24 hours urinary protein loss [r = 0.93, P < 0.01] and serum creatinine levels [r = 0.62, P < 0.05] and inversely with creatinine clearance [r 0.60, P < = 0.05]. This finding may reflect the renal] involvement in preeclamptic patients, the turnover of platelets may be increased which lead to increased BTG, levels in both plasma and urine and the more increase in BTG, level the more sever of kidney involvement