الفهرس 
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Abstract
The study group included 74 pregnant women > 20 weeks of gestation divided into:
Group I: control group: 20 healthy pregnant women
Group II: 20 pregnant women with gestational hypertension
Group III: 24 patients with preeclampsia, which was sub-classified to 2 subgroups:
a- Mild PE: 14 patients.
b- Severe PE: 10 patients.
Group IV: 10 patients with preeclampsia associated with intra uterine growth restrictions (IUGR)
All the included patients and controls were subjected to the followings investigations:
A) Routine investigations:
• Blood count: Hb%, TLC and platelet count
• Liver function tests (ALT, AST and serum albumin).
• Renal function tests (blood urea and serum creatinine).
• Protein / 24-hour urine collection.
• Random blood glucose.
• Complete urine examination
• C - reactive protein
• Rheumatoid factor
B) Special investigations:
Plasma Activin A by Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA).
Results of different groups were compared with each other and were summarized as follows:
The mean plasma Activin A level was significantly higher in group III (4797.4+1599.4 pg/ml ) and IV (4012.6+1961.3 pg/ml) than in group I (765.5+482.2 pg/ml) and II (937.4+654.5 pg/ml) (P<0.001).
The mean plasma Activin A level was significantly lower in group III a (4,167.5+1,865.19 pg/ml) than group III b (5,679.2+176.07 pg/ml) (P<0.05)
There were significant positive correlations between plasma Activin A and systolic blood pressure (r =0.54, P<0.0001), diastolic blood pressure (r =0.55, P<0.0001) and mean blood pressure (r =0.55, P<0.0001) as regarding all groups.
There was significant but low negative correlation between plasma Activin A and serum albumin as regarding all groups (r =-0.36, P<0.001).
There was significant but low positive correlation between plasma Activin A and 24h protein in urine as regarding all groups (r =0.27, P<0.05). On the contrary, a significant positive correlation between plasma Activin A and 24 h protein in urine was found within group III (r = 0.46, P<0.05).
There was significant but low negative correlation between plasma Activin A and platelet count as regarding all groups (r =-0.23, P<0.05).
There was significant but low positive correlation between plasma Activin A and urea as regarding all groups (r =0.32, P<0.05).