Angiogenesis in pre-eclampsia

Abstract

Objective: To study the angiogenetic activity of decidua basalis from primigravid women with pre-eclampsia.

Study design: Fresh fragments of decidua basalis from 10 primigravid women with pre-eclampsia and from 10 healthy, control primigravid women, were grafted onto the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) at the 6th incubation day. Four days later the CAMs were fixed and the angiogenic response of the CAMs was assessed on histologic sections by a planimetric point-count method.

Results: Decidua from pre-eclamptic pregnancies induced angiogenesis to a greater extent than that from normotensive pregnancies.

Conclusions: Angiogenesis might be stimulated in pre-eclampsia through endothelia and decidua changes induced by the pathological condition which, in turn, would lead to a greater expression of angiogenic factors also present in normal condition.