Objective: To determine the levels of platelet activating factor (PAF) and platelet associated IgG (PAIgG) in pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH).
Methods: Twenty-eight cases of normal pregnant women and 44 cases of PIH (moderate, n = 23; severe, n = 21) were enrolled in this study. The plasma level of PAF was measured using platelet aggregation bioassay, and determination of PAIgG was performed by ABC-ELISA (enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay) method.
Results: The level of plasma PAF in PIH patients (5.02 +/- 1.93 micrograms/L) was significantly higher than that in the controls (1.16 +/- 0.22 micrograms/L, P < 0.01). There was no difference between the levels of PAF in moderate PIH and severe ones. The level of PAIgG in PIH (6.3 +/- 4.9 micrograms/10(2)) was significantly higher than that in the control (3.8 + 1.8 micrograms/10(2), P < 0.05).
Conclusions: PAF may be involved and play an important role in the pathophysiological changes in PIH. Autoimmunological reaction of platelets may exist in pregnant women with PIH.