Deep placentation
Deep placentation in human pregnancy is realised by deep invasion of the placental bed by the extravillous trophoblast, involving the decidua and the inner (junctional zone) myometrium. Interstitial invasion of…
Decidualisation and angiogenesis
The timing of decidualisation and vascular processes during the implantation period is of paramount importance for the development of a receptive endometrium suitable for implantation. The endometrium transforms during the secretory…
Evolution of invasive placentation with special reference to non-human primates
It is now possible to view human placentation in an evolutionary context because advances in molecular phylogenetics provide a reliable scenario for the evolution of mammals. Perhaps the most striking…
Hypertensive disease in pregnancy: Multiple choice questions for Vol. 25, No. 4
1. Which of the following is/are risk factor(s) for pre-eclampsia? a) Smoking in early pregnancy. b) Smoking in late pregnancy. c) A previous pregnancy loss. d) Prolonged pre-pregnancy co-habitation. e)…
Placental bed & maternal–fetal disorders: Answers to multiple choice questions for Vol. 25, No. 3
1. (a) T (b) T (c) T (d) F (e) T By contrast to the situation in normal ongoing pregnancies, in cases of miscarriage, onset of the maternal intraplacental circulation…
Postpartum evaluation and long term implications
Hypertension, proteinuria and biochemical changes caused by pre-eclampsia may persist for several weeks and even months postpartum. Hypertension and pre-eclampsia may even develop for the first time postpartum. Care in…
Pre-eclampsia in low and middle income countries
Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The exact prevalence, however, is unknown. The majority of pre-eclampsia related deaths in LMIC occur in…
Advocacy organisations as partners in pre-eclampsia progress: patient involvement improves outcomes
Optimal maternal and neonatal health requires the expertise of maternity-care providers who base their decisions on solid research. Optimal care, however, also requires active patient participation, which is best accomplished…
Benchmarking and patient safety in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Reliable, published individual patient data from units and countries are lacking. Without these data, clinicians are unable…
Pre-eclampsia: Fetal assessment and neonatal outcomes
Pre-eclampsia is associated with a number of short- and long-term perinatal and neonatal complications, including death. These are mostly related to birth weight and gestational age at delivery, and therefore…
