Increased global fibrinolytic capacity as a clue for activated fibrinolysis in pre-eclampsia

The aim of this study was to compare fibrinolysis in normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia using individual markers of thrombosis and fibrinolysis with the contribution of a new parameter, global fibrinolytic capacity. Coagulation was determined with thrombin-antithrombin complex and prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F 1+2) and fibrinolysis markers. Tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and global fibrinolytic capacity were determined in 14 normal pregnancies and 29 women with pre-eclampsia. global fibrinolytic capacity was also determined in 14 age-matched healthy women. The Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson correlation test were used for statistical analysis. Thrombin-antithrombin complex, prothrombin fragment 1+2 levels, and global fibrinolytic capacity levels in pre-eclamptic women were significantly higher than in women with normal pregnancies (P < 0.05). Tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels were also significantly higher in the pre-eclampsia group (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05 respectively). No significant correlation was found between global fibrinolytic capacity and thrombin-antithrombin complex, prothrombin fragment 1+2 levels, tissue plasminogen activator or plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity. Our results suggest that both thrombin formation and fibrinolysis are increased in pre-eclampsia compared with normal pregnancy. The increased global fibrinolytic capacity indicates that fibrinolysis remains preserved in pre-eclampsia. We suggest that global fibrinolytic capacity may be a useful parameter for accurately measuring in-vivo fibrinolysis globally, instead of with single parameters which may overlook the complex interactions between coagulation and fibrinolytic systems.