Platelet genotiping of the polimorfisms for HPA-1 in preeclamptic pregnant woman and normotensive pregnant woman

• Grant number: 09/02433-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2009
• End date: June 30, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Anete Maria Francisco
• Grantee: Vitor Schlittler Abreu
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Marília (FAMEMA). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). Marília , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Preeclampsia is a disease that affects most of the pregnant women, especially primigravidae, may develop into eclampsia or HELLP syndrome if it is not diagnosed and treated properly. It can cause serious repercussions for the mother and the fetus, becoming one of the major causes of maternal mortality in developing countries with a prevalence of 5 to 8% and accounted for 15% of premature births in developed countries. Preeclampsia is characterized by hypertension with proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation and an inadequate vascular response to placentation, which is associated with increased systemic vascular resistance, increased platelet aggregation, activation of the coagulation system and endothelial dysfunction. Some of the most important platelet functions such as aggregation and adhesion, are mediated by glycoprotein receptors of these cells and also act as alloantigens. Among these, the clinical implications are located in the complexes of these glycoproteins and are called human platelet antigens, HPA-1, HPA-2, HPA-3 HPA-4 and HPA-5, respectively. Whereas some studies have shown biochemical evidence of activation of the haemostatic system in preeclampsia demonstrated by increased platelet activation, elevated plasma levels of fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor, and high levels of antigens HPA-1 (receptor for fibrinogen) and HPA-2 (receptor of factor von Willenbrand), these seem to point to the importance of platelets in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. The study of polymorphisms of human platelet antigens in pregnant women suffering from pre-eclampsia and normotensive pregnant women, might show some significatn respect and reveal a genetic risk factor for disease.