THE PREVALENCE OF SERUM ANTINEUTROPHIL CYTOPLASMIC AUTOANTIBODIES IN PREECLAMPSIA AND ECLAMPSIA

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence o f antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCAs) in preeclampsia an d eclampsia. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 26 mildly preec lamptic, 26 severely preeclamptic and 20 eclamptic, and 20 normal preg nant women (controls) in the late third trimester for tile determinati on of serum cytoplasmic pattern ANCA (cANCA) and perinuclear pattern A NCA (pANCA) by the corresponding enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: Signific ant elevations of serum cANCA and pANCA were found in mild and severe preeclampsia and eclampsia. The extent of rise correlated well with th e severity of the disease. Both ANCAs were detected in 80% of eclampti c cases versus 38.5 and 69.3% of mild and severe preeclampsia, respect ively. Marked elevations of serum ANCAs were associated with poor feta l outcome. CONCLUSION: ANCAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of gl omerulonephritis in preeclampsia and eclampsia and their presence may be attributed to an autoimmune mechanism initiated by autoantibody-med iated activation of neutrophils. Copyright (C) 1997 by the Society for Gynecologic Investigation.