FIBRINOLYTIC SYSTEM AND REPRODUCTIVE PROCESS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO FIBRINOLYTIC FAILURE IN PREECLAMPSIA

Here we summarize the recent progress in research on the role of the f ibrinolytic system in reproduction, with a special emphasis on the rol e of the plasminogen activator inhibitors in fetal development, Tropho blasts produce fibrinolytic proteins that can promote normal implantat ion and regulate blood dow to the fetus and placenta throughout pregna ncy, Normal pregnancy is associated with a hypofibrinolytic state that is fundamentally caused by an increase in plasminogen activator inhib itors types 1 and 2. In pre-eclampsia, a fibrinolytic failure, resulti ng from an increase in plasma and placental concentrations of plasmino gen activator inhibitor-1, was observed, The localized elevated concen trations of placenta plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 protein and mRN A observed in pre-eclamptic patients would be expected to foster the d eposition of fibrin and thus play a role in the complications associat ed with this disease. The decreased plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 concentrations in placenta and plasma from intrauterine fetal growth r etardation pregnancies and the positive correlation between plasma/pla centa plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 concentration and birthweight suggest that this inhibitor could be considered an adequate marker of placental function.