Thromb Haemost 1999; 81(01): 32-34
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1614413
Review Article
Schattauer GmbH

Thrombomodulin: A New Marker for Placental Abruption

Urania Magriples
1   From the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
,
Daniel W. Chan
1   From the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
,
Debra Bruzek
1   From the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
,
Joshua A. Copel
1   From the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
,
Chaur-Dong Hsu
1   From the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received05 June 1998

Accepted after resubmission18 September 1998

Publication Date:
08 December 2017 (online)

Summary

Thrombomodulin (TM), a marker of endothelial cell damage, has been localized to the placental syncytiotrophoblast. A prospective cohort study of twenty-five pregnant women who were admitted with a clinical diagnosis of placental abruption was undertaken. Abruption was confirmed after delivery in eight cases (Group 1). Group 2 consisted of seventeen patients with no clinical or pathologic evidence of placental abruption after delivery. TM was significantly elevated in Group 1 (71.59 ± 5.35 vs. 48.29 ± 3.53 ng/ml, p = 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of TM ≥60 ng/ml as a marker for abruption was 87.5 and 76.5%, respectively. In comparison, the sensitivity of an abnormal coagulation profile, maternal Kleihauer-Betke and ultrasound in patients with abruption was 0, 16.7 and 28.6%, respectively. TM is a highly sensitive and specific marker for acute placental abruption.

 
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