[Studies on the desquamation of vascular endothelium in EPH- gestosis]

The degree of vascular endothelium desquamation was studied with the use of the method of Hladovec and Rossmann in 90 women in normal pregnancy, 30 pregnant women with severe late gestosis, and 150 clinically healthy female controls. An increase in the number of circulating endothelial cells was found in woman with normal pregnancy after second trimenon; in 10% of them also aggregates of 15-20 endothelial cells were found in blood plasma. The number of circulating endothelial cells was even higher in women with severe gestosis; cell aggregates occurred in about 50% of cases. The highest degree of endothelium desquamation was observed in most severe forms of late gestosis, with chronic placental vascular insufficiency. The causes and significance of increased endothelial desquamation are discussed, and possibility of using the observed changes as criterion of efficiency of vasoactive therapy in late gestoses is suggested.