Functional and fibrinogen receptor studies in platelets in pre-eclamptic toxaemia of pregnancy

It is believed that platelets play a key role in the production of pre-eclamptic toxaemia and toxaemia of pregnancy. Toxaemia of pregnancy is described as a condition of chronic DIC where there is thrombocytopenia as well as raised fibrin degradation products. Since fibrinogen receptors are involved in the final stage of the platelet aggregation reaction, we wanted to investigate the platelet receptors for fibrinogen in normal and abnormal pregnancy. Thirty-six normal pregnant women (12 in their 2nd trimester, 24 in their 3rd trimester), 24 pregnant pre-eclamptic toxaemia cases and 16 non-pregnant controls were included in the present study. All patients with pre-eclamptic toxaemia had oedema, proteinuria and hypertension. Flow cytometric study of platelets was undertaken utilizing fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled anti-human fibrinogen antibody in unstimulated and ADP-stimulated (final concentration 0.02 M) platelets. The intensity of platelet fluorescence was classified into three groups and expressed in arbitrary units. The results indicate that there are a higher number of stimulated platelets expressing fibrinogen receptors in the circulation of patients with pre-eclampsia. Thus, it is possible to hypothesize that platelets showing increased fibrinogen receptors aggregate and form microthrombi in smaller vessels in women with pre-eclamptic toxaemia.