Placental chorangiosis: the association with oxidative stress and angiogenesis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chorangiosis is considered to be strongly associated with fetal, maternal, and placental disorders, and has been found to be correlated with increased fetal morbidity and mortality. In this study, it is aimed to investigate the association of angiogenesis and oxidative stress with the pathogenesis of chorangiosis.

METHODS

Expressions of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), which are investigated with avidin-biotin-peroxidase method in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections from placental tissues diagnosed as no chorangiosis (n = 18) and chorangiosis (n = 18), have been evaluated in a semiquantitative manner.

RESULTS

There were significant differences between chorangiosis and no chorangiosis cases with respect to birth weight, birth length, and Apgar scores (p < 0.001). Statistically significant (p < 0.001), diffuse and strong expressions with HSP70, VEGF-A and b-FGF were observed in the villous tissue of placental chorangiosis cases when compared with no chorangiosis cases.

CONCLUSION

The majority of the chorangiosis cases had an accompanying poor perinatal outcome, and also those with accompanying angiogenesis and increased oxidative stress demonstrated diffuse and strong expressions of HSP70, VEGF-A and b-FGF. The interaction of maternal, placental, and fetal factors with increased oxidative stress and angiogenesis may possibly contribute to this arising pathologic change.