Alterations in the prothrombin coagulation pathway due to preeclampsia.

ABSTRACT

Circulating plasma levels of human prothrombin antigen and activity were determined in normal pregnancy and in pregnancies complicated by hypertension, eclampsia, or preeclampsia. The ratio of prothrombin antigen to activity (Ag/Act) was within normal limits for all hypertensive patients. However, every untreated preeclamptic patient, as well as 2 eclamptic patients, had abnormal prothrombin antigen to activity ratios.