Placental Oxidative Stress: histological features, biomarkers and clinical conditions

This thesis describes the characteristics of placental oxidative stress in relation to placental pathology, biomarkers in maternal blood and clinical characteristics. In a retrospective study (DIGITAT) of cases with fetal growth restriction (FGR) a term indicated that induction of labor showed less histomorfologic ischemic placental changes (known as maternal vascular malperfusion) compared to an expectant management of delivery. Oxidative stress can result from inflammatory processes. Little is known however about the contribution of specific inflammatory processes to the rise of specific placental lesions and pregnancy complications. In pregnancies complicated by FGR an increase of M1-type (pro-inflammatory) macrophages was found. Also, an increase in regulatory T-cells and a decrease in chymase-positive mast cells in pregnancies complicated by FGR or stillbirth was seen. In FGR combined with preeclampsia significant differences in levels of oxidative stress was found compared to healthy pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by FGR only. By evaluating these characteristics we hope to discover new potential targets for intervention and possible treatment(s) of pregnancy complications. The thesis concludes with a review of different diet-related therapies in relation to pregnancy-related oxidative stress.