Effect of preclampsic toxaemia on the umbilical vessels

Abstract

Twenty umbilical cords were taken from 2 groups of pregnant women after labour. The first group are those umbilical cords taken from women who are suffering from preclampsic toxaemia (bdp.150/90-160/110 with edema and proteinuria). The second group are those healthy pregnant women, women suffering from hypertension before pregnancy, diabetes mellitus or Rh-incompatibility and those with history of cigarette smoking were excluded from the study. The study shows many histological changes in the umbilical vessels of the first group, these changes include necrosis with oedema of the whartons jelly. These changes include, narrowing of the lumen, destruction of the internal elastic membrane , with deposition of fibrinoid material in the tunica media, infarction and necrosis with edema of Wharton s' jelly. These changes indicate sever vascular damage due to high maternal blood pressure which in turn affect fetal development. The second group shows on such changes