Altered Platelet Calcium Metabolism as an Early Predictor of Increased Peripheral Vascular Resistance and Preeclampsia in Urban Black Women

Abstract

Our findings indicate that preeclampsia is characterized by the absence of the normal pregnancy-related decrease in vascular resistance, which is preceded in most instances by an exaggerated response of platelet intracellular calcium to arginine vasopressin early in pregnancy. We therefore propose that an increase in the sensitivity of platelet calcium to arginine vasopressin can be used as an early predictor of subsequent preeclampsia.