Thromboelastographic analysis of haemostasis in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women

Pregnancy is a state of heightened coagulation, exacerbated in pathological conditions such as preeclampsia. We evaluated the role of thromboelastography (TEG), compared with standard haemostasis tests, in identifying in haemostatic alterations in normotensive pregnancies and pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia. Standard haemostasis tests and TEG were performed on 28 normotensive women and 31 with preeclampsia at delivery, 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum. Results were compared between patient groups, and at different collection times. Standard haemostasis tests failed to reveal consistent differences in haemostatic function between subject groups, mirroring the inconsistency described in the literature. TEG revealed increased coagulability in preeclampsia subjects compared with normotensive subjects at delivery. Haemostatic alterations were normalized by 6 weeks postpartum and remained stable at 6 months postpartum. TEG is superior to standard laboratory haemostatic tests in evaluating antenatal and postpartum haemostatic alterations associated with pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia.