Proliferation of trophoblasts and Ki67 expression in preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disease with the increased risk of maternal morbidity and mortality. It is characterised by placental vascular dysfunction. Despite the numerous studies on preeclampsia, studies evaluating proliferation of villous trophoblasts in preeclamptic placentas are limited. Ki67 is a proliferation marker that expresses in the nuclei of proliferating cells. In this study, we examined the proliferation of villous trophoblasts in placentas of preeclamptic patients by using Ki67 and compared it with placentas of normal pregnant patients.

The current study is a prospective one, including 15 placentas from preeclamptic patients and 14 placentas from normal pregnancies as controls. For detection of proliferation in villous trophoblasts, Ki67 was used.

The Ki67 index was 11.48±1.67% in normal patients and 15.53±2.28% in preeclamptic patients. There was a difference in Ki67 index between the two groups (p < 0.001).

Our results support the opinion that trophoblasts undergo regeneration hyperplasia as a result of injuries arising on the villous surface in preeclampsia. Proliferation of trophoblasts may contribute the development of preeclampsia.