[P-selectin as endothelial reactivity marker in patients with pre-eclampsia].

INTRODUCTION

Pre-eclampsia affects 5% of all pregnancies. The physiopathologic hallmark is altered endothelium function and platelet activation. Selectins are molecules involved with the regulation between these systems, P-selectin is a molecule expressed in platelet membrane. Our objective was to describe the role of P-selectin on endothelial reactivity in patients with pre-eclampsia compared with normal pregnancies.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Blood samples from 30 patients with severe pre-eclampsia (cases) were compared with patients with 30 normal pregnancies during labor (controls). Samples from both groups were analyzed using ELISA (Bender Med kit, Vienna, Austria) for determination of P-selectin.

RESULTS

We compared main clinical, biochemical, and hematologic variables in both groups, identifying an outstanding difference in expression of P-selectin between them.

CONCLUSIONS

P-selectin is a marker of endothelium activation in patients with severe pre-eclampsia.