THROMBOPOIETIN IN NORMAL-PREGNANCY AND PREECLAMPSIA

OBJECTIVE: In normal pregnancy and pregnancies complicated by preeclam psia it has been demonstrated that there is increased activation of pl atelets and the clotting and fibrinolytic system. We measured plasma l evels of thrombopoietin, a major regulator of platelet production in t hese conditions. STUDY DESIGN: We compared the thrombopoietin plasma l evels of healthy term pregnant patients (n = 21) with those of healthy nonpregnant controls (n = 17), as well as patients with severe preecl ampsia (n = 8) and the hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet s syndrome (n = 6). RESULTS: Thrombopoietin levels in normal pregnant patients and pregnancies complicated by the hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets syndrome were statistically significantly highe r than thrombopoietin levels in nonpregnant controls. Data were analyz ed with the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance by ranks. CONC LUSIONS: This study is the first to report thrombopoietin levels in pr egnancy. Thrombopoietin levels are significantly greater in pregnant p atients and in pregnancies complicated by the hemolysis, elevated live r enzymes, low platelets syndrome compared with nonpregnant controls.