Histopathology and histomorphometry of umbilical cord blood vessels. Findings in normal and high risk pregnancies☆
Parts of this study were presented at the World Congress of Cardiology. 18–21 May 2008, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Circulation May 13, 2008;117(19):22 [abstr 0104].
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.artres.2011.02.001How to use a DOI?
- Keywords
- Umbilical cord; Preeclampsia; Hypertension; Diabetes; Histomorphometry; PAI-1; TGF-β1
- Abstract
Objective: A systematic histological, morphometric and immunohistochemical (PAI-1 and TGF-β1) study of umbilical vessels in normal and pathological conditions was undertaken in order to describe and compare the lesions found.
Methods: Segments of umbilical cords were obtained from 92 pregnancies/107 newborns from normal gestations (n = 20) or from gestational diabetes mellitus (n = 13), chronic hypertension (n = 14), preeclampsia (n = 9), intrahepatic cholestasis (n = 13), antiphospholipid syndrome (n = 11), fetal growth restriction (n = 9), oligohydramnios (n = 6), premature rupture of membranes (n = 12), antiphospholipid antibodies (n = 11) and fetal distress (n = 23). Thirty-four of these patients presented combined pathologies.
Results: “Pathological” umbilical cords presented perivascular/intraparietal hemorrhages with wall dissections, parietal recent thrombosis and focal moderate or extensive Wharton’s jelly hemorrhages. Pathological pregnancies presented more microscopic lesions (35/73; 48%) than normal pregnancies (4/20; 20%; p = 0.039). The wall:lumen ratio of arteries was significantly higher in all pathologies (32.6 ± 16) as compared to 3.1 ± 0.6 in the control group (p < 0.0001), also due to the significantly higher values belonging to outer plus inner layer areas in opposition to much less increases in luminal areas (p = 0.03). Concerning veins, wall:lumen ratio was also higher in the pathological groups (p = 0.0086) due to a 2-fold increase in wall areas.
Conclusion: Quantitative histomorphometry of the pathological alterations and pathophysiologic disorders of the umbilical cord has the potential to enhance investigation and treatment of maternal and fetal diseases.
- Copyright
- © 2011 Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
- Open Access
- This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.
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TY - JOUR AU - Manuel Vázquez Blanco AU - Hilda Ruda Vega AU - Roberto A. Guerri-Guttenberg AU - Rodolfo Giuliano AU - Daniel R. Grana AU - Francisco Azzato AU - José Milei PY - 2011 DA - 2011/02/26 TI - Histopathology and histomorphometry of umbilical cord blood vessels. Findings in normal and high risk pregnancies☆ JO - Artery Research SP - 50 EP - 57 VL - 5 IS - 2 SN - 1876-4401 UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2011.02.001 DO - 10.1016/j.artres.2011.02.001 ID - Blanco2011 ER -