The study examined 45 human umbilical cords taken from neonates born to full-term parturient: 15 normal, 15 suffering from mild pre-eclampsia and 15 suffering from severe pre-eclampsia. Morphological and morphometric changes were found in the cords, in the form of endothelial cell disorganization, degenerative changes of vascular smooth muscles, and alterations in connective tissue. All morphometric parameters were reduced in pre-eclampsia. These changes correlated with the degree of severity of the disease