Biopsy specimens of different quarters of placentae from 20
uncomplicated pregnancies (control) and forty cases of complicated
pregnancies with pre-eclampsia and diabetes mellitus, were routinely
processed stained by Haematoxylin and Eosin, Masson-Trichrome and
P.A.S. stains to evaluate the histopathological (villous and vascular)
changes.
The most common villous lesions found in pre-eclampsia were
infarction, cytotrophoblastic hyperplasia and there were significant
increase in number of villi and syncytial knots.
While in diabetic cases there was villous congestion and edema,
villous fibrosis and fibrinoid necrosis and there was also significant
increase in number of villi and syncytial knots. Morphometric study of
trophoblastic basement membrane; villous capillary basement membrane
and foetal blood vessel wall revealed significant increase in thickness in
both pre-eclamptic and diabetic cases, yet it was higher in diabetic cases. |
