The activity of plasma platelet-activating factor derived from pregnant women before and after delivery and its relation to pregnancy-induced hypertension

Abstract

The activity of plasma platelet-activating factor (PAF) from pregnant women before and after delivery was determined. Plasma samples were taken from 74 pregnant women, among whom 24 were normotensive controls, 30 mild and moderate hypertensive and 20 severe hypertensive. Of the two hypertensive groups (pregnancy-induced hypertension, PIH), PAF activity measured by a bioassay was significantly higher than that of normotensive control at 38 weeks in gestation, indicating a possible role of this potent lipid mediator in the pathophysiological mechanism of PIH. After delivery, PAF activity was obviously increased in all three groups, showing the regulation of placenta in PAF metabolism.

Keywords

platelet-activating factor / acetylhydrolase / delivery / pregnancy-induced hypertension

References

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