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[Placental villitis]
P Michaud1, P Michenet, B Lemaire
1Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique A, Hôpital Général, Orléans.
Placental villitis, which is defined by the presence of lymphocytic or macrophagic inflammatory cells within the villosities, constitutes a recently-described histopathological entity. This condition is the consequence of an immune response of the feto-placental unit towards a non-specific, multiple aggression and the incidence is very low. The extent of the inflammatory reaction may culminate in placentitis, resulting in miscarriage. Although a large number of infecting agents are known to be responsible for the pathogenesis of villitis, in most cases the etiology remains unknown. The hypothesis of a failure of the mechanisms of immunotolerance during pregnancy is suggested by many authors to explain their origin.
Placental villitis, which is defined by the presence of lymphocytic or macrophagic inflammatory cells within the villosities, constitutes a recently-described histopathological entity. This condition is the consequence of an immune response of the feto-placental unit towards a non-specific, multiple aggression and the incidence is very low. The extent of the inflammatory reaction may culminate in placentitis, resulting in miscarriage. Although a large number of infecting agents are known to be responsible for the pathogenesis of villitis, in most cases the etiology remains unknown. The hypothesis of a failure of the mechanisms of immunotolerance during pregnancy is suggested by many authors to explain their origin.