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Treatment of rats with human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) induced in the testes an inflammation-like reaction characterized by migration of leukocytes into the interstitial space. In order to find out whether hCG acts in a direct manner in this process, we tested peripheral human blood leukocyte attraction by hCG in vitro. Chemotaxis through cellulose nitrate to gradients of test substances was measured using a 48-well microchemotaxis chamber. Human CG was found to be a potent attractor of neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes in vitro in the picomolar concentration range. Checkerboard analyses revealed that the type of migration depends on positive concentration gradients of hCG. The chemoattractant nature of hCG is consistent with its having a role to play in regulation of tissue accumulation of these cells within the reproductive tract.

In a prospective, randomized, double-blind study for the prevention of pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, 41 primigravidae with positive roll-over test (28th-32nd week of pregnancy) received 80 mg aspirin/day or placebo until the end of the 37th week. In the patients treated with acetylsal-icylic acid (n = 22), 3 cases of proteinuria occurred, but no hypertensive pregnancy complication. In the placebo group (n = 19), 10 patients developed pregnancy-induced hypertension (6 of them preeclampsia). Group-specific differences concerning the occurrence of hypertension were statistically highly significant (p = 0.0004). No relevant differences were observed with regard to pregnancy duration, birth weight and umbilical artery pH value. The placebo group included 1 intrauterine death. No increased tendency to maternal or fetal bleeding was noticed.

The hemolysis markers LDH, haptoglobin, bilirubin (serum, urine), urobilinogen (urine), fragmentocytes and free hemoglobin were compared in 166 patients with various degrees of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and 179 nonhypertensive pregnant controls in a weekly screening program. Early recognition of hemolysis was limited to a period of 1 week before the actual delivery date. In the diagnostic sensitivity, haptoglobin and to a lesser degree unspecifÍc LDH were clearly superior to the other hemolysis parameters. A decreasing platelet count also has to be taken as an indicator of impending hemolysis. Subclinical hemolysis was associated with poorer fetomaternal outcome. With the aid of haptoglobin, LDH and thrombocytes, an incipient HELLP syndrome could be recognized 1–2 days before the complete clinical picture became apparent.