Comparative histomophometric differences between umbilical cords from normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies

Umbilical cords in pre-eclampsia shows significant structural changes, including decrease in cord area, jelly area and umbilical arterial area, whereas increase in total vessels area and vein area. These differences are due to adaptation of the umbilical cord under the altered hemodynamic conditions in pre-eclampsia. Morphological modifications of the umbilical vessels directly influence the fetal blood stream, which impact upon fetal development. So, prenatal monitoring of the feto-placental circulation may reduce the postnatal complications in pre-eclamptic pregnancies.