Abnormal vascular architecture at the placental-maternal interface in preeclampsia

Background and purpose: The aim of this study was to characterize the vascular architecture in the placental bed in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia and in normal pregnancies.
Methods: Vessel numbers and cross-section area density in 11 preeclamptic placental beds were compared with 10 normal placental beds using computer-assisted image analysis of whole-slide CD31-immunolabeled sections.
Results: The total surface occupied by vessels was significantly reduced in preeclamptic placental beds compared with controls beds. However, the number of vessels/section and average surface were similar in all cases. Vessel size distribution differed between the two groups: more smaller vessels were found in preeclamptic placental beds.
Conclusions: Using a whole slide scanning and computer-assisted analysis method, we demonstrated a different morphological architecture of vessels in the placental beds of preeclamptic patients which might reflect the previously reported findings of insufficient trophoblast invasion and incomplete vascular remodeling.