The Ultrastructure of Placental Syncytial Knots in Normotensive, Preeclamptic and HELLP Syndrome Patients

Year 2016, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 1 - 11, 15.06.2016

Dilek Yavuz Yusuf Nergiz Mehmet Sıddık Evsen Ercan Ayaz

Abstract

Background: Preeclampsia is one of the main causes of perinatal deaths and disabilities and is a
multisystemic disorder that is characterized by maternal hypertension, proteinuria, and increased
permeability of blood vessel damage.
Methods: In our study, increased syncytial nodes examined at ultrastructural level, and the effect of
the increase in syncytial node will be revealed by putting forward the possible changes in the
mentioned nodes both in women with preeclampsia and HELLP cases. We used the electron
microscope techniques to observe morphological and ultrastructural changes in the placenta and
placental deposits. Tissue samples were taken from 10 preeclamptic, 10 pregnant with HELLP and 10
healthy pregnant women from the control group. Through electron microscopy methods, the results of
the patients with preeclampsia, control group of pregnant women and patients with HELLP were
evaluated.
Results: As a result of electron microscopy studies, in placental tissues: in preeclampsia group, while
in fetal peripheral sections; we observed cytoplasmic common vacuolisations in syncytiotrophoblasts
and dilatation in endoplasmic reticulum cisterns, thinning in capillar endothelial cells and necrotic
appearance in syncytiotrophoblasts in contact with capillaries were found to be the dominant view. In
this group, reduction in the number of microvilli of syncytiotrophoblasts as well as the connective
tissue edema was one of the most remarkable findings. When HELLP maternal peripheral and central
cross-sections were analyzed, intracytoplasmic edema and degenerative vacuollar were observed in
syncytiotrophoblasts, both structures and villous edema seemed to be obvious. In HELLP fetal
peripheral sections, the presence of diffuse cellular debris in intervillous space was the most
important result.
Conclusion: Compared with the control group, increase was observed in the number of syncytial
nodes and histological changes in ultrastructural structure in placentas with preeclampsia and
HELLP.

Keywords

Preeclampsia , HELLP , Syncytial knot

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