The frequency of acute atherosis in normal pregnancy and preterm labor, preeclampsia, small-for-gestational age, fetal death and midtrimester spontaneous abortion

摘要

Objective: Acute atherosis is characterized by subendothelial lipid-filled foam cells, fibrinoid necrosis and perivascular lymphocytic infiltration. This lesion is generally confined to non-transformed spiral arteries and is frequently observed in patients with preeclampsia. However, the frequency of acute atherosis in the great obstetrical syndromes is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and topographic distribution of acute atherosis in placentas and placental bed biopsy samples obtained from women with normal pregnancy and those affected by the "great obstetrical syndromes''. We also examined the relationship between acute atherosis and pregnancy outcome in patients with preeclampsia.