Activated protein C resistance in preeclampsia

Objectives: Recently, hereditary and acquired diseases that lead to thromboembolic events by changing the hemostatic balance have attracted interest as a cause of preeclampsia. In this study the incidence of activated protein C resistance (APCR) in preeclamptic women was evaluated. Methods: Activated protein C sensitivity ratio (APC-SR) was measured by the modified activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) method in 19 preeclamptic and 12 healthy pregnant women and 26 normal women as the controls. Results below the levels of 2 were accepted as the presence of APCR. Results: Median APC-SR values of 2.12 and 2.01 in preeclamptic and healthy pregnant women, respectively, were found significantly lower than the normal control values of 2.31 (p = 0.0005, p = 0.001). APCR was detected in 31% of preeclamptic patients, 16.6% of healthy pregnant women and 7.6% of normal controls. Conclusion: APCR was found significantly higher in preeclamptic women and it may play an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.