An imbalance of angiogenic and antiangiogenic placental factors such as
endoglin and soluble
fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 has been implicated in the pathophysiology of
preeclampsia. Extraction of these substances by
plasmapheresis might be a therapeutical approach in cases of severe early-onset
preeclampsia. Case Report. A 21-year-old primigravida with
antiphospholipid syndrome developed early-onset
preeclampsia at 18 weeks' gestation. She was treated successfully with
plasmapheresis in order to prolong pregnancy.
Endoglin and sflt-1-levels were measured by ELISA before and
after treatment.
Endoglin levels decreased significantly
after treatment (p < 0.05) and showed a significant decrease throughout pregnancy. A rerise of
endoglin and sflt-1 preceded
placental abruption 4 weeks before onset of incident. Conclusion. Due to the limited long-term therapeutical possibilities for pregnancies complicated by PE,
plasmapheresis seems to be a therapeutical option. This consideration refers especially to pregnancies with early-onset
preeclampsia, in which, after first conventional treatment of PE, prolongation of pregnancy should be above all.