Does preeclamptic pregnancy increase fetal-maternal hemorrhage?

Since pathologic changes of the placenta have been found in preeclamptic pregnancies, a relationship between fetal-maternal hemorrhage and preeclampsia was investigated. Sixty-two women with singleton pregnancies in the third trimester were studied. Thirty-one of these women with preeclampsia were matched with 31 normotensive healthy pregnant women. Maternal serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) and Kleihauer-Betke (KB) test were determined to reflect the degree of fetal-maternal hemorrhage. There were no significant differences in MSAFP levels, MSAFP to creatinine ratio, or the appearance of fetal cells as measured by the KB test between preeclamptic pregnancies and matched controls. Our data do not suggest that fetal-maternal hemorrhage is increased in pregnant women with preeclampsia.