Changes of platelets’ function in preeclampsia
Increased aggregation of platelets during preeclampsia was shown in several studies, yet several others reported no change. The aim of our study was to investigate platelet aggregation in a group of patients suffering from preeclampsia. In a cross-sectional study blood samples were taken from 89 hospitalized patients in the third trimester of pregnancy: 38 were suffering from mild to moderate preeclampsia and 51 patients were without preeclampsia. From the blood samples platelet aggregation, secretion of adenine nucleotides from platelets, concentration of energy-rich adenine compounds and levels of cyclic adenosine-mono-phosphate and cyclic guanosine mono-phosphate in platelets were measured. In the patients with preeclampsia, the adenosine diphosphate threshold for biphasic aggregation [odds ratio (OR):.75; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.55–1.02; p<0.05], total adenine nucleotides concentration in the metabolic pool of platelets (OR:0.99; CI: 0.62–1.57; p<0.01) and cyclic adenosine-mono-phosphate (OR:0.81; CI: 0.57, 1.14; p<0.05) and cyclic guanosine mono-phosphate (OR:.78; CI: 0.55–1.09; p<0.05) levels in platelets were decreased in comparison with the control group, while adenylate energy charge in the metabolic pool of platelets (OR: >100.00; CI: 0.00->100.00; p<0.05) and secretion of adenosine triphosphate (OR:.13; CI: 0.00–14.26; p<0.05) and adenosine diphosphate (OR:.77; CI: 0.08–36.79; p<0.05) were increased. The results of our study show increased activation and aggregation of platelets in pregnant females with preeclampsia.