C1 esterase inhibitor activity in amniotic fluid embolism.

OBJECTIVES: Amniotic fluid embolism exhibits activation of the complement system and the kallikrein-kinin and coagulofibrinolytic systems. C1 esterase inhibitor is a major inhibitor of C1 esterase and can inhibit plasma kallikrein and also factors XIIa and XIa. Its activity has been shown to be significantly lower in pregnancy and labor than in the nonpregnant state. The purpose of this study was to determine C1 esterase inhibitor activity levels in amniotic fluid embolism.

DESIGN: Retrospective study.

SETTING: A single university-based center.

PATIENTS: One hundred six cases with amniotic fluid embolism in a total of 194 singleton pregnant women between January 2010 and December 2011.

INTERVENTIONS: None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One hundred six cases of amniotic fluid embolism had applied to the Japan amniotic fluid embolism registration center in Hamamatsu University School of Medicine between January 2010 and December 2011. In amniotic fluid embolism cases, 85 cases were nonfatal and 21 cases were fatal. Eighty-eight women who delivered without amniotic fluid embolism were regarded as a control. C1 esterase inhibitor activity levels were significantly lower in amniotic fluid embolism patients (30.0% ± 1.8%) than in control women (62.0% ± 2.0%) (p < 0.0001). C1 esterase inhibitor activity levels in fatal amniotic fluid embolism cases (22.5% ± 3.4%) were significantly lower than those in nonfatal amniotic fluid embolism cases (32.0% ± 2.1%) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that low C1 esterase inhibitor activity levels were closely associated with the pathogenesis of amniotic fluid embolism suggesting that C1 esterase inhibitor activity levels have potential as a prognosis factor of amniotic fluid embolism.