Increased VWF antigen levels and decreased ADAMTS13 activity in preeclampsia

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographic, obstetrical, and medical characteristics of the study population

Characteristics	PE (n = 110)	Normal pregnancies (n = 50)	Non-pregnant (n = 10)
Age (years), (mean ± SD)	31.0 ± 6.1	31.1 ± 5.6	32.0 ± 2.9	P > 0.05
Gestational age (week) at enrollment (median [range])	31.0 [26–32]	30 [26–32]		P > 0.05
Pregestational diabetes, % (n)	4.5 (5)	0
PE history
Personal	10 (11)	0		P < 0.01
Family	15.4 (17)	2 (1)
Preterm delivery (<37 WG), % (n)	63.6 (70)	4 (2)		P < 0.01
History of venous thrombosis
Personal, % (n)	1 (0.9)	0		P < 0.05
Familial, % (n)	10 (11)	4 (2)
Gestational history
Nulliparity, % (n)	45.5 (50)	44 (22)		P > 0.05
Primipaternity, % (n)	18.1 (20)	20 (10)		P > 0.05
Multiple pregnancy, % (n)	36.4 (40)	36 (18)		P > 0.05
Preterm delivery (<37 WG), % (n)	54.5 (60)	6 (3)		<0.01
Fetal growth restriction, % (n)	18.2 (20)	8 (4)		<0.01
PE
Severe: % (n)	63.6 (70)
Mild: % (n)	36.4 (40)
Connective tissue disease or APS, % (n)	1.8 (2)	2 (1)		P > 0.05
Body mass index before pregnancy >30 kg/m^2, % (n)	13.6 (15)	2 (1)		<0.01

APS, antiphospholipid syndrome.

Table 2. VWF antigen levels, VWF RCO levels, and ADAMTS13 activity in different studied groups

	Non-pregnant women (n = 10)	Normal pregnant women (n = 50)	PE (n = 110)
VW Fantign, median (range)	110.3 (100.1–120.3)	190.2 (150.1–210.8)	360.1 (240.6–570.3)	P < 0.01
VWF RCO, median (range)	145.0 (120.6–150.3)	169.3 (140.2–220.8)	295.1 (166.4–398.5)	P < 0.01
ADAMTS 13%, median (range)	130.1 (110.5–150.4)	110.0 (80.6–140.2)	80.8 (60.5–90.8)	P < 0.01

Table 3. VWF antigen level, VWF RCO levels, and ADAMTS13 activity in mild versus severe PE subgroups

	Mild PE (n = 40)	Severe PE (n = 70)	P
VWF antigen, median (range)	340 (240.6–480)	386 (266–570.3)	<0.01
VWF RCO, median (range)	202.0 (166.4.2–290.0)	322.0 (230–398.5)	<0.01
ADAMTS 13%, median (range)	68.0 (60.5–74.0)	85.0 (69–90.8	<0.01

Table 4. Odds ratio for risk of PE for ADAMTS13 activity and VWF antigen

No.	PE cases (n = 110)	OR (95% CI)	OR1 (95% CI)	OR2 (95% CI)
ADAMTS13 activity, %
>80	52	1	1	1
70 to 80	35	0.9 (0.6 to 2.0)	1.6 (0.7 to 3.4)	0.8 (0.5 to 2.6)
≤70	23	4.2 (1.8 to 7.5)	5.4 (1.6 to 13.5)	4.6 (1.9 to 14)
VWF: Ag, ng/ml
>460	60	1	1	1
350 to 460	20	9.1 (1.7 to 35)	6.9 (1.7 to 28)	10.9 (1.8 to 76)
≤350	30	38 (8.9 to 144)	29.4 (6.7 to 129)	59 (7 to 411)

OR indicates unadjusted OR; OR1, ADAMTS13 (activity) adjusted for VWF:Ag or VWF:Ag adjusted for ADAMTS13 activity; OR2 adjusted for PE risk factors (pregestational body mass index >30 kg/m², nulliparity, multiple pregnancy, personal history of thrombosis, connective tissue disease or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome).

CI, confidence interval.