Artery Research

Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2011, Pages 50 - 57

Histopathology and histomorphometry of umbilical cord blood vessels. Findings in normal and high risk pregnancies☆

Authors
Manuel Vázquez Blancoa, Hilda Ruda Vegab, Roberto A. Guerri-Guttenbergc, Rodolfo Giulianob, Daniel R. Granac, Francisco Azzatoc, José Mileic, *
aDivisión Cardiología, Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
bDivisión Obstetricia, Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
cInstituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas (ININCA), UBA-CONICET, Marcelo T. de Alvear 2270, C1122AAJ Buenos Aires, Argentina

Parts of this study were presented at the World Congress of Cardiology. 18–21 May 2008, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Circulation May 13, 2008;117(19):22 [abstr 0104].

*Corresponding author. Tel./fax: +54 11 45083888. E-mail address: ininca@fmed.uba.ar (J. Milei).
Corresponding Author
José Milei
Received 17 May 2010, Revised 31 January 2011, Accepted 1 February 2011, Available Online 26 February 2011.
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2011.02.001How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Umbilical cord; Preeclampsia; Hypertension; Diabetes; Histomorphometry; PAI-1; TGF-β1
Abstract

Objective: A systematic histological, morphometric and immunohistochemical (PAI-1 and TGF-β1) study of umbilical vessels in normal and pathological conditions was undertaken in order to describe and compare the lesions found.

Methods: Segments of umbilical cords were obtained from 92 pregnancies/107 newborns from normal gestations (n = 20) or from gestational diabetes mellitus (n = 13), chronic hypertension (n = 14), preeclampsia (n = 9), intrahepatic cholestasis (n = 13), antiphospholipid syndrome (n = 11), fetal growth restriction (n = 9), oligohydramnios (n = 6), premature rupture of membranes (n = 12), antiphospholipid antibodies (n = 11) and fetal distress (n = 23). Thirty-four of these patients presented combined pathologies.

Results: “Pathological” umbilical cords presented perivascular/intraparietal hemorrhages with wall dissections, parietal recent thrombosis and focal moderate or extensive Wharton’s jelly hemorrhages. Pathological pregnancies presented more microscopic lesions (35/73; 48%) than normal pregnancies (4/20; 20%; p = 0.039). The wall:lumen ratio of arteries was significantly higher in all pathologies (32.6 ± 16) as compared to 3.1 ± 0.6 in the control group (p < 0.0001), also due to the significantly higher values belonging to outer plus inner layer areas in opposition to much less increases in luminal areas (p = 0.03). Concerning veins, wall:lumen ratio was also higher in the pathological groups (p = 0.0086) due to a 2-fold increase in wall areas.

Conclusion: Quantitative histomorphometry of the pathological alterations and pathophysiologic disorders of the umbilical cord has the potential to enhance investigation and treatment of maternal and fetal diseases.

Copyright
© 2011 Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

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Journal
Artery Research
Volume-Issue
5 - 2
Pages
50 - 57
Publication Date
2011/02/26
ISSN (Online)
1876-4401
ISSN (Print)
1872-9312
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2011.02.001How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2011 Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

Cite this article

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Manuel Vázquez Blanco
AU  - Hilda Ruda Vega
AU  - Roberto A. Guerri-Guttenberg
AU  - Rodolfo Giuliano
AU  - Daniel R. Grana
AU  - Francisco Azzato
AU  - José Milei
PY  - 2011
DA  - 2011/02/26
TI  - Histopathology and histomorphometry of umbilical cord blood vessels. Findings in normal and high risk pregnancies☆
JO  - Artery Research
SP  - 50
EP  - 57
VL  - 5
IS  - 2
SN  - 1876-4401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2011.02.001
DO  - 10.1016/j.artres.2011.02.001
ID  - Blanco2011
ER  -