UNDERLYING DISORDERS ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERE EARLY-ONSET PREECLAMPSIA

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine whether patients with severe e arly-onset preeclampsia have hemostatic or metabolic abnormalities tha t are associated with a tendency to Vascular thrombosis. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 101 patients with a history of severe early-onset preeclam psia were tested at least 10 weeks post partum for the presence of hyp erhomocysteinemia (methionine loading test), protein C, protein S, and antithrombin III deficiency activated protein C resistance, lupus ant icoagulant, and immunoglobulin G and/or M anticardiolipin antibodies. RESULTS: Of the 101 patients, 39 (38.6%) had chronic hypertension. Of the 85 patients tested for coagulation disturbances, 21 (24.7%) had pr otein S deficiency. Of the 50 patients tested for activated protein C resistance, 8 (16.0%) were positive. Of the 79 patients tested for hyp erhomocysteinemia, 14 (17.7%) had a positive methionine loading test. Finally, 95 patients were tested for anticardiolipin antibodies; 27 (2 9.4%) had detectable immunoglobulin G and/or M anticardiolipin antibod ies. CONCLUSION: Patients with a history of severe early-onset preecla mpsia should be screened for protein S deficiency, activated protein C resistance, hyperhomocysteinemia, and anticardiolipin antibodies, sin ce these results may have an impact on counseling for and pharmacologi c management in future pregnancies.