Histopathologic Changes in the Placenta of Pregnant Women with Preeclampsia

Keywords: Preeclampsia, hematoxylin-eosin staining, histopathologic examination

Abstract

Objective: The placenta plays a key role in the development of pre-eclampsia. Knowledge of the histopathologic changes in the preeclamptic placenta will improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, which may contribute to the development of timely interventions, prevention strategies or treatment options. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the histopathologic changes in the placentas of pre-eclampsia patients.

Material and Methods: This study was conducted between May 01, 2023, and January 31, 2024, at tertiary hospital. A total of 30 pregnancies were included in the study, 15 with preeclampsia and 15 that were otherwise normal pregnancies. After delivery by cesarean section, the placentas of these patients were taken to the Department of Histology and Embryology examined histologically by staining with hematoxylin-eosin.

Results: Compared to the control group, the placentas of the pre-eclampsia patients showed a more degeneration of the villi, hemorrhage in the intervillous area, the presence of immune cells, vasodilation, and congestion. In addition, there were more fibrinoid accumulations and more syncytial knots in the placentas of the pre-eclampsia patients.

Conclusion: There were histologic differences between the placenta of pre-eclampsia patients and the control group. The studies that search the precursor markers leading to these histopathologic changes are necessary to improve our understanding of preeclampsia and to develop further strategies such as treatment options and prevention strategies.

Keywords: Preeclampsia, hematoxylin-eosin staining, histopathologic examination

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Mehmet Obut, Health Sciences University, Diyarbakır Gazi yaşargil Training and Research Hospital, Department of Perinatology

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Süleyman Cemil Oğlak, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakır

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Fırat Aşır, Department of Histology and Embryology, Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Diyarbakır

Department of Histology and Embryology, Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Fatma Tuba Karakaş, Department of Histology and Embryology, Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakır,

Department of Histology and Embryology, Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Nilufer Dönmezdil, Department of Histology and Embryology, Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Diyarbakır

Department of Histology and Embryology, Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Elif Ağaçayak, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Diyarbakır

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Erdal Şeker, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osmaniye State Hospital, Osmaniye,

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osmaniye State Hospital, Osmaniye, Turkey

Murat Akkuş, Department of Histology and Embryology, Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakır,

Department of Histology and Embryology, Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Diyarbakır, Turkey

References

Abalos E, Cuesta C, Grosso AL, Chou D, Say L. Global and regional estimates of preeclampsia and eclampsia: a systematic review. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2013 Sep;170(1):1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2013.05.005 PMid:23746796

Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 222. Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Jun;135(6):e237-e260. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000003891 PMid:32443079

Obut M, Oğlak SC. Expression of CD44 and IL-10 in normotensive and preeclamptic placental tissue. Ginekol Pol. 2020;91(6):334-341. https://doi.org/10.5603/GP.2020.0058 PMid:32627155

Papageorghiou AT, Yu CK, Bindra R, Pandis G, Nicolaides KH; Fetal Medicine Foundation Second Trimester Screening Group. Multicenter screening for pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction by transvaginal uterine artery Doppler at 23 weeks of gestation. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2001 Nov;18(5):441-9. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.0960-7692.2001.00572.x PMid:11844162

Soma H, Yoshida K, Mukaida T, Tabuchi Y. Morphologic changes in the hypertensive placenta. Contrib Gynecol Obstet. 1982;9:58-75. https://doi.org/10.1159/000406845 PMid:6754249

Choudhury M, Friedman JE. Epigenetics and microRNAs in preeclampsia. Clin Exp Hypertens. 2012;34(5):334-41.https://doi.org/10.3109/10641963.2011.649931 PMid:22468840 PMCid:PMC3399917

Staff AC, Fjeldstad HE, Fosheim IK, Moe K, Turowski G, Johnsen GM, et al. Failure of physiological transformation and spiral artery atherosis: their roles in preeclampsia. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2022 Feb;226(2S):S895-S906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2020.09.026 PMid:32971013

Acar Z, Obut M, Gedik Özköse Z, Sucu S, Sezer S, Bucak M, et al. The investigation of serum nectin-4 levels in patients with early onset preeclampsia. J Health Sci Med /JHSM /jhsm. Ekim 2023;6(6):1193-1199. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1350858

Burton GJ, Hung TH. Hypoxia-reoxygenation; a potential source of placental oxidative stress in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia. Fetal Matern Med Rev. 2003;14(2):97-117. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0965539503001049

Ogge G, Chaiworapongsa T, Romero R, Hussein Y, Kusanovic JP, Yeo L, et al. Placental lesions associated with maternal underperfusion are more frequent in early-onset than in late-onset preeclampsia. J Perinat Med. 2011 Nov;39(6):641-52. https://doi.org/10.1515/jpm.2011.098 PMid:21848483 PMCid:PMC3213694

Rambaldi MP, Weiner E, Mecacci F, Bar J, Petraglia F. Immunomodulation and preeclampsia. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2019 Oct;60:87-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2019.06.005 PMid:31311760

Keles A, Dagdeviren G, Yucel Celik O, Karatas Sahin E, Obut M, Cayonu Kahraman N, C, et al. Systemic immune-inflammation index to predict placenta accreta spectrum and its histological subtypes. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2022 Jul;48(7):1675-1682. https://doi.org/10.1111/jog.15254 PMid:35365935

Deer E, Herrock O, Campbell N, Cornelius D, Fitzgerald S, Amaral LM, et al. The role of immune cells and mediators in preeclampsia. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2023 Apr;19(4):257-270. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-022-00670-0 . Epub 2023 Jan 12. PMID: 36635411; PMCID: PMC10038936

Published
2024-05-15
How to Cite
1.
Obut M, Oğlak SC, Aşır F, Karakaş F, Dönmezdil N, Ağaçayak E, Şeker E, Akkuş M. Histopathologic Changes in the Placenta of Pregnant Women with Preeclampsia. JDDT [Internet]. 15May2024 [cited 8Sep.2024];14(5):32-5. Available from: https://jddtonline.info/index.php/jddt/article/view/6585