Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is one of the most common pregnancy complications affecting approximately 5-7% of pregnant women worldwide. Pathogenesis of PE is still mysterious. Literature studies reported differences between early and late onset PE. Also, whether placenta of late-onset PE without fetal growth restriction (FGR) is different from normal one needs further declaration.
Objective: This study aims at evaluating the placental microvessel density (MVD), apoptosis and endoglin (CD105) expression in late-onset PE without FGR.
Patients and Methods: Placentae of 15 PE and 15 matched control ones were evaluated grossly, microscopically and by immunohistochemistry for caspase-3, CD 34 and CD105.
Results: Placentas in PE group showed a statistically significant difference as regard size, syncytial knots, perivillous fibrin deposition, villous infarction increased apoptosis, and endoglin (CD105) expression. However, the percentage of terminal villi and microvessel density (MVD) were comparable in both groups.
Conclusion: Placenta from late onset PE without FGR is still different from the normal placenta whatever time onset of PE pathogenesis may be similar. Absence of changes in MVD may explain good fetal outcome.