PLATELET INTRACELLULAR FREE CALCIUM RESPONSE TO ARGININE-VASOPRESSIN IS SIMILAR IN PREECLAMPSIA AND NORMAL-PREGNANCY

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the effect of arginine vasopress in stimulation on platelet free intracellular calcium levels in normal pregnancy, incipient preeclampsia, and established preeclampsia. STUD Y DESIGN: Cross-sectional and prospective observational study designs were used, Platelet free intracellular calcium was measured by flow cy tometry in 10 nonpregnant female volunteers, 10 women with established preeclampsia and their normal pregnant matched controls, and 64 norma l pregnant women at 28 weeks' gestation. All pregnant women were nulli parous. RESULTS: Increased response to arginine vasopressin stimulatio n was observed in nonpregnant compared with pregnant women (p < 0.001) . No differences were observed between women with normal pregnancy, in cipient preeclampsia, or established preeclampsia. CONCLUSION: The pla telet intracellular free calcium response to arginine vasopressin is n ot a feature of incipient or established preeclampsia. Therefore, in c ontrast to a previous report, it does not appear to have value as a pr edictive test for preeclampsia.