Do pregnant women with chronic venous disease show different levels of cellular markers in their placentas?

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Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a common, complex vascular disorder characterized by increased blood pressure and structural and functional changes in the venous system, such as varicose veins. Pregnancy is one of its main risk factors. The consequences of CVD during pregnancy are not yet fully understood, but existing evidence supports that it places substantial stress on the mother and fetus and leads to significant histopathological changes in the placenta.

Tetraspanins CD9, CD63, and CD81, ALG-2-interacting protein X (Alix), and heat-shock protein HSP-70 are cellular components involved in multiple biological processes in both normal physiological and disease conditions. Although some studies have shown their relevance in placental tissue and pathological pregnancies, little is known about their role in pregnancy-associated CVD.

This comparative study analyzed these components in placentas from women with CVD (n=62) and healthy women (n=52). The researchers measured gene expression using RT-qPCR and protein expression using immunohistochemistry.

Women with CVD during pregnancy showed increased gene and protein expression of the studied markers compared with healthy women. These findings suggest that the markers may be involved in the pathological environment of their placentas.

The authors call for further studies to explore the potential implications of these changes and better understand the effects and consequences of pregnancy-associated CVD for maternal and fetal wellbeing.