[The placenta : a new target organ for hypertension ?]

The placenta has generated many beliefs over centuries and in all ethnicities. Considered in our society as a surgical waste, it is elsewhere contemplated for its mysterious protective powers, viewed as the seat of the soul, disposed of, burnt or even buried. However, once time is taken for its examination, the placenta tells a story. Of interest is the similarity observed between placental vascular disease in hypertensive pregnancy and atherosclerosis in coronary artery disease for example. Hypertension in pregnancy is frequent and associated with increased adverse obstetrical outcomes, and long-term risk of cardiovascular and kidney disease. This article will discuss the role of placental histopathology in hypertensive pregnancies, its indicative value for long-term cardiovascular risk in mothers and for subsequent pregnancy.