Does coagulation have a causative role in eclampsia?

Abstract

Alternations in the coagulation mechanism were looked for in a population of eclamptic women, most of when were young, nulliparous, and without evidence of chronic vascular disease, and all of whom survived. Thrombocytopenia was identified in 29% of these women. A prolonged plasma thrombin time was demonstrated in 51% yet elevated fibrinogen-fibrin degradation products in serum were uncommon, as was fibrin monomer in plasma. Overt microangiopathic hemolysis was rare. It is concluded that disseminated intravascular coagulation, when it does occur in eclampsia, is the consequence of the disease rather than the cause. Moreover, endothelial damage, rather contents, probably initiates the thrombocytopenia and other coagulation changes.