Main Findings
The results of our study indicate that when early-onset preeclampsia
prior to 34 weeks gestation occurred in aPL-positive women it was
clinically more severe than in aPL-negative women. Women with positive
aPL antibodies presented and were hospitalized earlier, delivered at a
significantly earlier gestational age and with lower mean birth weight
compared with women with negative aPL antibodies. Furthermore, platelet
nadir was significantly lower for aPL-positive women and maximal serum
creatinine was higher, two characteristics of preeclampsia with severe
features. Although the study lacked the power to detect statistical
differences in rare events, the rate of fetal/neonatal death and
eclampsia was higher in women with positive aPL antibodies.