Inflammasomes in placental explants of women with preeclampsia cultured with monosodium urate may be modulated by vitamin D.

Objectives: Preeclampsia (PE) is an important syndrome of gestation characterized by placental and systemic inflammation. High plasma concentration of uric acid are frequently associated with inflammation and endothelial dysfunction and may contribute to PE pathogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate the vitamin D (VD) immunomodulatory effect on the NLRP1/NLRP3 inflammasomes in placental explants from preeclamptic (PE) and normotensive (NT) pregnant women.

Pre-eclampsia: Universal Screening or Universal Prevention for Low and Middle-Income Settings?

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a severe disorder that affects up to 8% of all pregnancies and represents an important cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The screening of the disease is a subject of studies, but the complexity and uncertainties regarding its etiology make this objective a difficult task. In addition, the costs related to screening protocols, the heterogeneity of the most affected populations and the lack of highly effective prevention methods reduce the potential of current available algorithms for screening.

Pre-eclampsia/Eclampsia.

Pre-eclampsia is a multifactorial and multisystemic disease specific to gestation. It is classically diagnosed by the presence of hypertension associated with proteinuria manifested in a previously normotensive pregnant woman after the 20 week of gestation. Pre-eclampsia is also considered in the absence of proteinuria if there is target organ damage.

Toll-Like Receptor-2 and -4 Expression by Maternal Neutrophils in Preterm Labor.

Background And Aims: The inflammatory response in preterm parturition is regulated by the innate immune system. Toll-like receptors (TLR)-2 and TLR-4 are innate immune receptors that recognize the microorganisms most frequently involved in amniotic cavity infections, which are associated with activating the inflammatory response at the maternal-fetal interface during preterm labor. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of TLR-2 and TLR-4 in maternal neutrophils in preterm labor.

Human fetal malformations associated with the use of an angiotensin II receptor antagonist: case report.

Introduction: The potential risks related to drug exposure during pregnancy represent a vast chapter in modern obstetrics and data regarding the safety of antihypertensive drugs during pregnancy are relatively scarce.

Case Report: A 37-year-old patient discovered her fifth pregnancy at our hospital after 26 weeks and 4 days of gestation. She reported a history of hypertension and was currently being treated with Losartan.

Evaluation of passage of fetal erythrocytes into maternal circulation after invasive obstetric procedures.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the passage of fetal erythrocytes into the maternal circulation after invasive obstetric procedures, using the Kleihauer-Betke test, flow cytometry and α-fetoprotein concentration in maternal blood.

Material And Methods: This was a prospective descriptive study on patients who underwent: amniocentesis, cordocentesis, chorionic villus sample, amniotic infusion, bladder drainage and ventricular-amniotic shunt to investigate the karyotype; treatment for hydrocephalus, oligohydramnios, obstructive uropathy and polyhydramnios; and investigation of lung maturity. Maternal blood samples were collected before and 60 min after the invasive obstetric procedure in order to evaluate the passage of fetal erythrocytes using the Kleihauer-Betke test, flow cytometry and α-fetoprotein concentration.

[Preeclampsia: oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction].

Preeclampsia is a systemic syndrome characterized by inflammatory and antiangiogenic states. The pathogenesis of preeclampsia involves deficient trophoblast invasion that is responsible for altered uterine blood flow and placental oxidative stress. The damaged placenta produces higher concentrations of sFlt-1, a soluble receptor for VEGF and PlGF that is released in the maternal circulation and is involved in endothelial dysfunction.