Am J Perinatol 1988; 5(1): 29-32
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-999648
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1988 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Factor VIII: Von Willebrand Factor Patterns in the Plasma of Patients with Pre-Eclampsia

Steve Calvin, James Corrigan, Louis Weinstein, Monet Jeter
  • The Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatrics, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
04 March 2008 (online)

ABSTRACT

Elevation of the factor VIII protein to coagulant ratio previously has been reported to predict the severity of pre-eclampsia. Abnormal levels and patterns of factor VIII: von Willebrand factor (VIII/vWF) have been reported in thrombotic thrombocytopenia pur-pura (TTP). Severe pre-eclampsia shares many features with this syndrome. Nine pri-migravid patients with pre-eclampsia were evaluated by assays for factor VIII/vWF protein and coagulant activity and were compared to nine normal primigravid (controls). The patients and controls were indistinguishable by factor VIII antigen/coagulant activity ratios. Pre-eclamptic patients also had unremarkable factor VIII patterns on crossed im-munoelectrophoresis. The evaluation of factor VIII/vWF multimeric patterns showed four patients with abnormal patterns in the pre-eclamptic patients and three abnormal patterns in the controls. These patterns were not analogous to the factor VIII abnormalities found in TTP.