Pseudoxanthoma elasticum and pregnancy: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a rare hereditary disease characterised by systemic degeneration of elastic tissue. Calcification of elastic fibres seen histologically is pathognomonic for the disorder. Most pseudoxanthoma elasticum patients show no serious complications during pregnancy.


METHODS
We report a case of a 29-year-old white woman with pseudoxanthoma elasticum, who delivered a healthy infant at the 35th week by cesarean section after an uneventful pregnancy. Sonographic and histological placental findings are described.


CONCLUSIONS
Pregnancy in a patient with pseudoxanthoma elasticum presents some problems such as the evolution of the disease in the soon to be mother and the influence of the disease on the pregnancy. In our case there were no fetal-maternal complications related to the disease except skin lesion aggravation.
Valenzano
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Genova University, S. Martino Hospital, Italy.
Corticelli
A
A
Podestà
M
M
Nicoletti
L
L
Saffioti
S
S
Derchi
L
L
D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011561:Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal