Soluble fibrinogen/fibrin complexes in pre-eclampsia.

Significantly increased concentrations of soluble fibrinogen/fibrin complexes were found in plasma samples from ten normal pregnant women when compared with ten non-pregnant age-matched controls. In ten women with pre-eclampsia mean soluble complex concentration was more than three times that in the age, parity, and gestation matched pregnant controls. Soluble fibrinogen/fibrin complexes are also found in the plasma of patients in various hypercoagulable and thrombotic states, including disseminated intravascular coagulation. These findings provide additional evidence that pre-eclampsia is associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation.