Platelet function in preeclampsia – a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy-related complication. Platelets are potentially important in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, and platelet function analyses may prove as sensitive preeclampsia biomarkers. This study aimed to systematically review and summarise the literature on platelet function markers in preeclampsia.

This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA and registered in PROSPERO. Relevant studies were identified through PubMed and Embase on 15/08/17. As platelet function markers platelet activation, platelet aggregation and platelet adhesion markers were included. If possible, relevant data were extracted for each marker to perform a meta-analysis of the mean difference between women with and without preeclampsia. All 69 included articles underwent quality rating.

Some platelet activation markers, especially p-selectin and mean platelet volume (MPV), were significantly increased comparing the two groups of women, while others were not. The meta-analysis demonstrated that, overall, women with preeclampsia had significantly higher MPV than in women without preeclampsia. No significant difference was found regarding platelet aggreg`ation comparing the two groups. Platelet adhesion was investigated in noneof the included studies. In conclusion, further studies are warranted to investigate platelet activation markers future role as predictive markers in preeclampsia. MPV is suggested as the most promising biomarker for evaluating platelet function in preeclampsia.

Keywords:

• Eclampsia
• mean platelet volume
• platelet activation
• platelet function
• preeclampsia
• pregnancy

Acknowledgements

None

Author contribution

C.J. has performed the literature search, she contributed to the inclusion and exclusion process, quality rating, and data extraction. C.J. wrote the first draft of the manuscript. J.B.L. contributed to the inclusion and exclusion process and quality rating, performed the meta-analysis on MPV, and contributed substantially to revision of the manuscript. J.F. contributed substantially to revision of the manuscript. AM. H. was responsible for the scientific quality of this study and contributed to the inclusion and exclusion process, quality rating, and revision of the manuscript.

Declarations of interests

CJ and JBL have no conflict of interest to declare. JF and AMH have no conflicts of interest regarding the present paper but have the following general conflicts of interests: JF has received speaker’s fees from CSL Behring, AMH has received speaker’s fees from CSL Behring, Bayer, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Leo Pharma and has received unrestricted research support from Octapharma, CSL Behring and Leo Pharma.

Supplementary material

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