Antiphospholipid antibodies do not cause retargeting of placental extracellular vesicles in the maternal body.

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are autoantibodies that cause pregnancy disorders by a poorly defined mechanism that involves the placenta. The human placenta is covered by a single multinucleated cell, the syncytiotrophoblast, which extrudes vast numbers of extracellular vesicles (EVs) into the maternal blood. Extracellular vesicles are tiny packages of cellular material used by cells for remote signalling.

Comparison of the effects on maternal endothelial cell activation: an in vitro study of anti-hypertensive drugs clinically used in pre-eclampsia.

Endothelial cell dysfunction in pregnancy, which can be induced by placental factors, is the fundamental component of the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. The dysfunctional vascular endothelium disrupts the balance of vasodilatory and vasoconstrictive factors, resulting in increasing blood pressure. There is currently no effective treatment for pre-eclampsia and effective control of hypertension may reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality by prolonging gestation, especially in cases of early onset disease.

HOW Collaborative position paper on the management of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy.

Thrombocytopenia in pregnancy is a common occurrence, affecting up to 10% of women by the time of birth. These recommendations aim to provide pragmatic guidance on the investigation, diagnosis and management of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy; including safety of neuraxial anaesthesia and precautions required for birth. Management of neonatal thrombocytopenia is also addressed.