Cigarette smoking and pregnancy II: vascular effects.
The act of smoking introduces a complex set of chemicals that have a broad range of effects, both complementary and antagonistic, at various levels within the vascular tree. A general review of these systemic effects is followed by a summary of documented effects of smoking on the uterine vasculature and of relationships of smoking to pregnancy outcomes known to be associated with vascular pathology. Last, we offer a potential resolution for the apparent paradox of the seemingly 'protective' effect of smoking to reduce the incidence of pre-eclampsia, one of the most serious vascular complications of pregnancy.
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology