THROMBOMODULIN LEVELS IN PREECLAMPSIA, GESTATIONAL HYPERTENSION, AND CHRONIC HYPERTENSION

Objective: To measure the circulating levels of thrombomodulin in wome n with preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and chronic hypertensio n. Methods: Serum levels of thrombomodulin were measured in 34 women w ith preeclampsia, 15 with gestational hypertension, 11 with chronic hy pertension, and 34 normotensive pregnant women in the third trimester. Preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and chronic hypertension were defined by ACOG criteria. Soluble thrombomodulin antigen was measured by a two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Mean (+/- s tandard error) serum thrombomodulin levels were significantly higher i n patients with preeclampsia (69.7 +/- 6.3 ng/mL) than in those with g estational hypertension (46.0 +/- 3.2 ng/mL) or chronic hypertension ( 46.2 +/- 3.3 ng/mL), and normotensive controls (50.1 +/- 3.1 ng/mL). T here were no significant differences among the gestational hypertensio n, chronic hypertension, and normotensive control groups. Conclusion: Thrombomodulin may serve as a clinically meaningful marker to differen tiate preeclampsia from other forms of hypertensive disorders in pregn ancy.