Coagulation and fibrinolysis in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth retardation

Saline extracts were made from portions of 17 normal placentae and from 8 placentae from pregnancies complicated by fetal growth retardation, but not hypertension. The ability of these extracts to inhibit urokinase-induced fibrinolysis was measured using a fibrin plate technique. Placental extracts from pregnancies complicated by fetal growth retardation exhibited greater inhibition of urokinase-induced fibrinolysis. There was no evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation in these patients, but certain coagulation factors in the peripheral blood were raised.