Clinical and Haemostatic Parameters in the HELLP Syndrome: Relevance of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitors

Abstract

Various parameters of the haemostatic and, more importantly, of the fibrinolytic systems were examined in 5 patients with severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. All 5 showed signs of haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count (HELLP syndrome). A significant decrease in platelet count (46.4 X 10(9)/litre) and an increase in beta-thromboglobulin (137 ng/ml) were observed in the HELPP patients in comparison with normal pregnant women (267 X 10(9)/litre and 49.3 ng/ml, respectively). No significant differences in fibrinogen levels, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time and fibrin(ogen) degradation products between the HELLP patient group and the normal pregnant group were observed. However, the antigenic levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator and type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor were significantly higher in the HELLP pre-eclamptic women than in gestational age-matched controls. In contrast, the antigen levels of type 2 plasminogen activator inhibitor were significantly lower in the patients. These results indicate that platelet activation and alterations in plasminogen activator inhibitors type 1 and type 2 may be involved in the pathophysiological pathway of this syndrome.