Abstract
We evaluated changes in plasma coagulation inhibitors and thrombin-antithrombin III complexes in 60 normal pregnant women. Blood samples were taken on the first, second and third trimesters, during delivery and 3 days after delivery. Antithrombin III, thrombin-antithrombin III, heparin cofactor II, protein C and protein S were determined using commercial tests. Antithrombin III remained unchanged during pregnancy, but increased after delivery. Heparin cofactor II levels during pregnancy were above non-pregnant values, but returned to normal non-pregnant values at delivery. Protein C decreased during delivery, but protein S levels decreased from the second trimester and returned to normal non-pregnant values during delivery. High thrombin-antithrombin III levels showed that the coagulation system was activated during pregnancy from the first trimester. Maximum levels were reached during delivery. Three days after delivery, the coagulation inhibitors returned to normal non-pregnant values.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 699-702 |
| Journal | Medical Science Research |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| Publication status | Published - 20 Nov 1997 |
Keywords
- Antithrombin III
- Coagulation
- Heparin cofactor II
- Pregnancy
- Protein C
- Protein S
- Thrombin-antithrombin III complexes