Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
05:31
Disruption of the Mouse Blood-Brain Barrier by Small Extracellular Vesicles from Hypoxic Human Placentas
Published on: January 26, 2024
Placental changes in eclampsia and fetal outcome
M A Rahman1, M H Rahman, M H Habib
1Department of Anatomy, Armed Forces Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Mymensingh Medical Journal : MMJ
|August 19, 2007
Summary
Eclampsia in pregnant women is linked to smaller placentas and fetuses due to microscopic vascular changes. Atherosclerotic changes in chorionic arteries may impair placental function, impacting fetal growth.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pathology
- Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Eclampsia is a serious pregnancy disorder with significant fetal risks.
- Placental vascular changes are implicated in eclampsia's impact on fetal development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare placental dimensions and microscopic vascular changes between eclamptic and normal pregnancies.
- To assess the correlation between placental characteristics and fetal outcomes in eclampsia.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study of 40 placentas (20 eclamptic, 20 control) collected after Cesarean section.
- Microscopic examination of chorionic arteries for intimal thickness and atherosclerotic changes.
- Measurement of placental weight, volume, diameter, and thickness.
Main Results:
- Eclamptic placentas were significantly smaller in weight, volume, diameter, and thickness compared to controls (p<0.001).
- Increased intimal thickness, suggestive of atherosclerosis, was observed in chorionic arteries of eclamptic placentas (p<0.001).
- A significant positive correlation existed between placental and neonatal weight.
Conclusions:
- Eclampsia is associated with reduced placental size and microscopic vascular pathology.
- Atherosclerotic changes in placental arteries may contribute to impaired fetal growth in eclamptic pregnancies.
- Compensatory mechanisms in eclamptic placentas may fail to protect fetuses from severe placental atherosclerosis.
Related Concept Videos
01:07Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
01:14Fetal Circulation
Fetal circulation is a unique system that facilitates the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the developing fetus and the mother. This intricate process takes place through a special organ called the placenta.
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...