Abstract
To clarify the role played by tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) in pregnancy hypertension.
Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, hemostatic measurements were obtained for women with pre-eclampsia (
n
=
51), nonproteinuric hypertension of pregnancy (
n
=
62), postpartum pre-eclampsia 24 h after childbirth (
n
=
31), and no hypertension (healthy pregnant controls,
n
=
100).
There was a significant increase in circulating free TFPI levels in women with pre-eclampsia (9.7
±
6.2 ng/mL) or nonproteinuric hypertension of pregnancy (8.3
±
5.3 ng/mL) compared with healthy controls (5.3
±
2.1 ng/mL). In women with pre-eclampsia the levels remained elevated after placental delivery (10.6
±
4.0 ng/mL). Free protein S levels were significantly higher in women with pre-eclampsia (40.0%
±
10.7%), nonproteinuric hypertension of pregnancy (37.1%
±
12.5%), or postpartum pre-eclampsia (39.3%
±
9.1%) than in healthy pregnant controls (32.2%
±
8.5%).
Increased levels of the physiologically active free forms of TFPI and free protein S, 2 coagulation inhibitors, may protect women with pregnancy-induced hypertension from the risks of hemostatic activation.