European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

HISTOMORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF UMBILICAL CORD IN HYPERTENSIVE PREGNANCY WITH DIFFERENT SEVERITY

Bhavina K.* and J. Radhika Krishnan

ABSTRACT

The primary function of umbilical cord is to supply blood to and from the placenta. Pregnancy induced hypertension is a unique disorder in human pregnancy appears after 20 weeks of gestation. Hypertension in pregnancy is associated with both maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The structure of umbilical vessels was purely depending on rate of blood flow through it. Aim of the present study to evaluate the histological changes of umbilical vessels in pregnancy induced hypertension with different severity. There were 4 groups in the study, Group 1 - Control group, Group 2 - Gestational hypertensive group, Group 3 - women with mild preeclampsia, Group 4 - severe preeclampsia. 1cm length of foetal end of cord were used for the histological study. Specimens were fixed in 10% formalin and sections were stained with H&E and Vangieson stains. Whartons jelly area and the size of umbilical vessels were reduced in hypertensive pregnancy. Among the hypertensive groups, very lowest values have been noticed in severe preeclampsia. The total thickness of umbilical vessels were more in severe preeclampsia, that was mainly due to the proliferation of smooth muscles in tunica media.The changes in structure of umbilical cord might be due to the altered hemodynamic condition in PIH. In accordance with the low blood flow and increased blood pressure, the umbilical vessels wall thickness also increased by the proliferation of smooth muscle cells in their media and the vessels were highly constricted.

Keywords: preeclampsia, wharton's jelly, tunica intima, tunica media.