Maternal Diseases Complicating Pregnancy: Diabetes, Tumors, Preeclampsia, Lupus Anticoagulant

Abstract

Numerous diseases may complicate pregnancy. The most important of those that affect placental development and function are herein reviewed. Our own experience with some of these entities is added. With some of these complications of pregnancy, the placental findings may simply be confirmatory of the disease. With others, placental pathology may be the first indication of an abnormality. Despite many reports of diseases that complicate pregnancy, associated placentas are often not examined, or they are not reported in the descriptions. That is unfortunate because those placentas could aid in the diagnosis and knowledge of the pathogenesis of these conditions. Moreover, a better understanding of the placenta could allow us better insight into the mechanisms of the effects that certain conditions have on the fetus. Burrow and Ferris (1988) have written a comprehensive text on medical complications of pregnancy but have also almost totally excluded placental considerations; the general texts on obstetrics and perinatology should also be consulted. Because of their particular importance, some entities (e.g., Rh isoimmunization disease and hydrops, pyelonephritis, and infections in general) are presented in separate chapters.