Maternal plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 at 11 to 13 weeks of gestation in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: In patients with preeclampsia maternal plasma concentration of plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2) is reduced. The objective of the study was to determine if the altered levels of PAI-2 precede the onset of the disease. METHODS: Plasma PAI-2 was measured at 11-13 weeks of gestation in 119 pregnancies that developed preeclampsia, 85 that developed gestational hypertension and 204 controls. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in PAI-2 between the preeclampsia, gestational hypertension and controls (1.07 MoM, 1.08 MoM and 0.96 MoM). CONCLUSION: The decrease in plasma PAI-2 observed in preeclampsia does not precede the clinical onset of the disease.

Effect of chorionic villus sampling on uterine artery Doppler.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to examine the potential effect of chorionic villus sampling (CVS) on placental perfusion by examining the change in uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) between the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective screening study for pregnancy complications which included measurement of uterine artery PI at 11(+0) to 13(+6) weeks and at 20(+0) to 24(+6) weeks of gestation. In women at increased risk for fetal aneuploidies, CVS was performed. Uterine artery PI in the first and second trimesters, and the change in PI between the two examinations were compared between the CVS and non-CVS groups. RESULTS: The study population included 8,822 singleton pregnancies, in 308 of which CVS was performed. In the CVS group, compared to the non-CVS group, the median uterine artery PI before CVS, corrected for gestational age, was higher in both the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, but the change in PI between the two examinations was not significantly different (p = 0.789). CONCLUSION: The performance of CVS in the first trimester is unlikely to interfere with normal placentation.