Antiphospholipid antibodies in pregnant women with preeclampsia: a case control study

Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, complicating 3-14% of all pregnancies. Pregnancy complicated by antiphospholipid antibodies and preeclampsia in pregnancy share several common characteristics, which suggest that the association between the two conditions is more than coincidental. To assess the level of antiphospholipid antibodies in normal pregnancy and in pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia a case control prospective study carried out in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology/Baghdad Teaching Hospital/ Medical City/ from January 2012 to January 2013. Seventy-two pregnant women were enrolled into this study, 48 with preeclampsia (mild and severe), and 24 women without hypertension as a control group. Their age ranges from (16-42 years) and gestational age between (24-40 weeks). Antiphospholipid antibodies APLAB (IgG and IgM) and anticardiolipin antibodies ACLAB (IgG and IgM) levels were measured by ELISA (enzyme. linked Immuno- Sorbent Assay) in all participates. The study showed elevation of ACLAB IgM in preeclampsia group with mean ±SD of (21.93±16.12), (8.22±1.75) for severe and mild preeclampsia respectively while in the control group it was (6.62± 2.8). This was highly significant in severe preeclampsia when compared to mild and control group. We conclude that there is significantly elevated level of ACLAB IgM in severe preeclampsia when compared to normal pregnancy.

Keywords: Preeclampsia; Antiphospholipid antibodies; Anticardiolipin; Pregnancy

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