Sex-specific basis of severe placental dysfunction leading to extreme preterm delivery

Fetal sex exerts a differential effect on the placental pathology that mediates severe pre-eclampsia and/or IUGR. Placental pathology at birth may provide insight into the mechanisms linking adverse in utero events with long-term adult disease since, for example, a male tendency to an inflammatory pathology at the maternal-fetal interface may be linked to the excess risk of coronary artery disease.