Modifications of the coagulation factors during normal and pathological pregnancies

Levels of fibrinogen and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (F.D.P.) have been mesurated respectively by thrombin time and by staphylococcus clumping test in 33 pregnant patients, recovered in the Obstetric and Gynaecological Clinic - University of Padua, during the ninth month of pregnancy. A control group of 16 normal pregnancies, a second group of 12 hypertensive patients, and a third group of 15 pregnancies who had given birth to rather small babies for date, were considered. A significative increase (p less than 0,001) of the F.D.P. values was found both in the pregnant women with hypertension and in those with foetal insufficiency respect to the control group. The fibrinogen levels did not vary in any of the three groups.