PLASMA P-SELECTIN (GMP-140) AND GLYCOCALICIN ARE ELEVATED IN PREECLAMPSIA AND ECLAMPSIA - THEIR SIGNIFICANCES

OBJECTIVE: We measured the concentrations of plasma P selectin (or GMP -140) and glycocalicin in preeclamptic and eclamptic women. Correlatio ns between these two parameters and blood pressures, platelet counts, or plasma thrombin-antithrombin complex values were evaluated. STUDY D ESIGN: By use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays we measured the pl asma GMP-140 and glycocalicin levels in normal pregnancies (n = 10) an d preeclamptic (n = 10) and eclamptic (n = 20) pregnancies. The glycoc alicin index was calculated as follows: (glycocalicin x [250 x 10(6)/m l])/(individual platelet counts). Correlations between plasma GMP-140, glycocalicin, glycocalicin index values, blood pressures, platelet co unts, and plasma thrombin-antithrombin complex values were analyzed. R ESULTS: Plasma GMP-140 levels were found to be significantly elevated in preeclamptic (p < 0.0005) and eclamptic cases (p < 0.0001) compared with normotensive controls. Plasma glycocalicin (p = 0.01, 0.007) and glycocalicin index (p = 0.005, 0.002) values were also markedly eleva ted in preeclamptic and eclamptic patients compared with normal pregna nt patients. Significant correlations between platelet counts or plasm a thrombin-antithrombin complex levels and their corresponding plasma GMP-140 and glycocalicin and glycocalicin index values have been found in preeclamptic and eclamptic cases. However, blood pressures had cor relations with GMP-140, glycocalicin, and glycocalicin index values in eclamptic cases. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated an elevation of plasma GMP-140 and platelet glycocalicin in preeclampsia and eclampsia. This study also reflects the usefulness of glycocalicin as a marker of plat elet activation or turnover and endothelial dysfunction in these disea ses.