L12. The role of heparin in the prevention of preeclampsia

Abstract

is associated with a significant increase in the odds of developing preeclampsia. However, these sequential changes need to be large. Cross-sectional analysis of maternal sFlt1, sEng and PlGF showmodest significant differences of at least one of these factors during the third trimester in women who develop preeclampsia in all high-risk groups. Only sFlt1 was significantly higher 2–5 weeks before the clinical onset of preeclampsia in women with previous preeclampsia. However the concentration of these circulating angiogenic factors is unlikely to be useful in predicting preeclampsia in these high-risk populations. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a 32-amino acid polypeptide that is co-secreted with the inactive amino-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) from the left and right cardiac ventricle in response to ventricular volume expansion and pressure overload. NT-proBNP is used in the diagnosis and followup of patients with acute and chronic heart failure. Serum concentrations of NT-proBNP may be used to monitor cardiac function during pregnancy. Tihtonen et al. has already shown as serum concentrations of NT-proBNP concentrations are significantly higher in preeclamptic women compared to chronic hypertensive and normotensive pregnancies. The author concludes that high NT-proANP and NT-proBNP concentrations in preeclampsia reflect the strain on the heart caused by high afterload. Seong et al. confirm that in patients with mild and severe preeclampsia, NTproBNP levels are elevated; Our experience gives to NTproBNP a role in predicting preeclampsia in chronic hypertensive pregnancies: this may reflect ventricular stress and/or subclinical cardiac dysfunction associated with preeclampsia.