Serum markers of inherited thrombophilia and antiphospholipid antibodies in pregnant women with previous history of severe pre-eclampsia

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency and the association of serum markers for inherited and acquired thrombophilias in pregnant women with a history of severe pre-eclampsia in previous pregnancies. METHODS: Case-control study consisting of 81 pregnant women with a history of severe pre-eclampsia in previous pregnancies (study group) and 32 women with no history of severe pre-eclampsia in previous pregnancies (control group). The presence of inherited thrombophilia and antiphospholipid antibodies was screened in both groups. We used the chi-square test with Yates correction to assess associations and calculate the relative risks. RESULTS: The presence of thrombophilia was detected in 60.0% of patients with a previous history of pre-eclampsia and in 6.0% of the control patients. A significant association was found between pre-eclampsia in a previous pregnancy and the presence of markers for hereditary thrombophilia/antiphospholipid antibodies (p<0.05). The relative risk to develop pre-eclampsia was found to be 1.57 (1.34<RR<1.84) for pregnant women with antiphospholipid antibodies, 1.53 (1.26<RR<1.86) for women with hereditary thrombophilia markers and 1.86 (1.45<RR<2.38) considering the presence of hereditary thrombophilia and/or antiphospholipid antibodies. CONCLUSION: Women with serum markers for inherited or acquired thrombophilia showed a high relative risk to develop pre-eclampsia.