Detection of microparticles of leukocytic origin in the peripheral blood in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia.

Microparticles are microvesicles forming during cell activation and as a result of apoptotic cell death. Normal pregnancy is associated with apoptosis induction in active immune system cells, present in the decidual tissue. Preeclampsia is associated with activation of the peripheral blood leukocytes and more intense apoptosis of the trophoblast cells. As a result, the number of microparticles in the peripheral blood is changing in normal gestation and in preeclampsia. The content of the leukocytic microparticles in the peripheral blood is evaluated in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia. The content of neutrophilic and monocytic microparticles is higher than normally in preeclampsia, this indicating activation of these cells. The number of microparticles formed by NK cells is low in preeclampsia, which can reflect the incompetence of immunological tolerance mechanisms under these conditions.