Amniotic Fluid Platelet Factor 4 and Beta- Thromboglobulin

Abstract

Platelet activating factor (PAF), a powerful platelet activator, has been identified in huma embryos and fetuses, and may induce fetal lung maturation. The potential effect of PAF on fetal platelets as indicated by release of β-thromboglobulin (BTG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) has not been investigated. We measured BTG and PF4 in amniotic fluid from 78 genetic and 35 pulmonary maturity amniocenteses. BTG and PF4 were higher in the genetic amniocentesis samples (p < 0.001 in each case) than in the lung maturity samples. BTG and PF4 did not correlate with the pulmonary maturity parameters as measured by the lecithin to sphingomyelin ratio and phosphatidylglycerol concentration. Our findings suggest a fetal origin of BTG and PF4 in amniotic fluid.