Biography
Biography: Ghazala Shaheen
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is hypertensive pregnancy disorder which is one of the leading causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Circulating factors or signals or impaired placental blood flow have been considered as links between the placenta and maternal vascular dysfunction which leads to PE. The present study aimed to elaborate the role of epinephrine and histopathological assessment of placental villi in preeclampsia (PE) patients and normotensive pregnant women. Total 400 blood samples (PE=200, controls=200) and 100 placental tissue samples (PE= 50, controls=50), were included in the study. Blood samples were taken before delivery and placental tissue samples were recruited after simple vaginal delivery (SVD) and Caesarean section (C-section). Levels of epinephrine and thyroid hormones were analyzed through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and histomorphology and histomorphometric evaluation of stem villi were studied through histology. Data were statistically analyzed by independent sample t-test. Significantly increased concentrations of epinephrine (p<0.011) while non-significant difference in thyroid hormones was determined in preeclamptic women as compared to the normotensive group. Histological changes determined abnormal villi, more syncytial knots (SK), intervillous spaces and a significant decrease in total area and circularity of VP in PE placentas as compared to the control group. The findings of this study suggest that epinephrine levels were elevated in preeclamptic women and may play a key role in the development of PE. Furthermore, histological placental evaluation provides probable clinical evidence of PE occurrence and new methods for PE screening to improve the reproductive health of women and infants in Pakistan.