Coagulation, fibrinolysis, platelet and kinin-forming systems during toxemia of pregnancy.

The coagulation, fibrinolysis, and platelet and kinin-forming systems were studied during toxemia of pregnancy by multifactorial examinations. In severe toxemia of pregnancy, decreases in extrinsic coagulation factors, platelet, antithrombin III, plasminogen, alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor, and increases in soluble fibrin-monomer complex, fibrin degradation products, beta-thromboglobulin were observed. This suggests that intravascular coagulation, induced probably through the extrinsic pathway and secondary fibrinolysis, is associated with toxemia of pregnancy. Prekallikrein increased during pregnancy but decreased rapidly with onset of labor. The same changes were observed in high molecular weight kininogen, indicating that kinin may be generated, which would contribute to the uterine contraction during labor. The prekallikrein level was significantly low during severe toxemia.