INCREASED LEVELS OF PLASMA THROMBOMODULIN IN PREECLAMPSIA

Plasma levels of thrombomodulin (TM), a glycoprotein found on the surf ace of the endothelial cell, are elevated in certain diseases that are characterized by damage to the vascular endothelium. Such damage is t hought to be involved in preeclampsia. We therefore studied the plasma levels of this substance in 13 preeclamptic women as compared with 14 normal pregnant and 16 nonpregnant women. We found that the plasma le vels of TM were significantly elevated in preeclamptic women vs. contr ols. A significant positive correlation was observed between the plasm a TM level and that of serum creatinine. It is thus suggested that ele vated TM levels in preeclampsia may reflect a decrease in renal cleara nce rather than vascular endothelial damage.