Increased apoptosis in first trimester extravillous trophoblasts from pregnancies at higher risk of developing preeclampsia.

ABSTRACT: Preeclampsia complicates 5 to 10% of pregnancies and is a leading cause of maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. Although the cause is unknown, inadequate invasion and remodeling of maternal uterine arteries by extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) in the first trimester is a common feature. Uterine spiral artery resistance as detected by Doppler ultrasound is commonly used in the second trimester to identify pregnancies destined to develop preeclampsia. Correlation between high uterine resistance and the failure of trophoblast invasion has been reported as early as 12 weeks. However, the reason for this failure has not been established. Understanding the processes involved would significantly improve our diagnostic potential. In this study, we correlated increased first trimester uterine

SUBMITTER: Whitley GS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1899436 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature