Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the association between the occurrence
of hypertension (HTN) in pregnancy and antiphospholipid antibodies.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 100 pregnant women with their
first pregnancy induced HTN and no history of thrombosis, renal disease or systemic
autoimmune diseases. HTN was defined as blood pressure (BP) of 140/90 mmHg or
higher on two measurements with 6 hours apart. Control group comprised of
pregnant women without hypertension or proteinuria and without history of
thrombosis or systemic autoimmune disease. Antiphospholipid Antibodies
(Antiphospholipid IgG and IgM and anticardiolipin IgG and IgM) levels were
measured in both groups.
Results: There were significantly higher titer of Antiphospholipid IgG and
anticardiolipin IgG and IgM in case group (p<0.05). Antiphospholipid IgM had no
difference between two groups (p=0.14). There were moderate but statistically
significant correlation between blood pressure and parity (r=0.3; p=0.0001),
gestational age and antiphospholipid IgM antibody level (r=0.3; p=0.02), and between
gestational age and anticardiolipin IgM antibody level (r=0.28; p=0.002).
Conclusion: We found elevated levels of IgG and IgM anticardiolipin and IgG
antiphospholipid antibodies in pregnancy induced HTN, but level of antiphospholipid
IgM antibody was not different in hypertensive and normotensive women. (Rawal
Med J 2007;32:173-175)
Key words: antiphospholipid antibodies, anticardiolipin antibodies, pregnancy, hypertension
