Plasma antithrombin levels correlate with albumin and total protein in gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the antithrombin-III (AT-III) activity in the plasma in relation to the serum albumin and total protein in preeclampsia and gestational hypertension.

STUDY DESIGN

The medical records of 139 patients who were diagnosed with gestational hypertension (n=33) and preeclampsia (n=106) were reviewed, and the relationships between the activity of AT-III and serum albumin or total protein were evaluated.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The plasma AT-III activity in gestational hypertension and preeclampsia was correlated with the serum albumin and TP levels.

RESULTS

There were significant correlations between AT-III activity and albumin in gestational hypertension (r=0.504, p=0.003) and preeclampsia (r=0.343, p=0.003). There were also significant correlations between AT-III activity and TP in gestational hypertension (r=0.619, p=0.001) and preeclampsia (r=0.366, p=0.001). Regression coefficients between AT-III and albumin and between AT-III and TP in gestational hypertension (23.7 and 14.0, respectively) were significantly steeper than those in preeclampsia (14.6 and 9.6, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The plasma AT-III activity in gestational hypertension and preeclampsia was correlated with the serum albumin and TP levels. This suggests that AT-III activity is more likely to decrease in gestational hypertension than in preeclampsia.