Human pathology
-
Overexpression of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 has been linked to preeclampsia and is thought to be secondary to placental insufficiency caused by hypoxia. Villous hypermaturity, characterized by presence of increased syncytial knots, has been associated with syndromes of placental insufficiency, particularly when severe. This study was undertaken to determine whether there is a link between soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 expression, villous hypermaturity, and clinical severity of preeclampsia. ⋯ The association between vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1/soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 score and small placentas did not persist after controlling for hypermaturity. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1/soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 overexpression in the placenta strongly correlates with both severity of hypertensive disease and villous hypermaturity. The correlation with villous hypermaturity further links hypoxia to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1/soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 production in the placenta.