Placental bed changes in hypertensive pregnancy and its reflection on fetal outcome

Placental bed biopsy specimens were obtained under direct vision during cesarean section from 42 patients [10 normotensive, 20 pre-eclamptic, 2 eclamptic and 10 essential hypertension with pregnancy]. The mean gestational age was 38-40 weeks. Spcimens were examined histologically light microscope. Spiral artery changes in the normotensive pregnancy were compared with those in hypertensive pregnancy. The degree of impairement was proportioal to the severity of the disease. Typical physiological changes were present in cases of essential hypertension with pregnancy