title: Villitis of unknown aetiology: correlation of recurrence with clinical outcome.
abstract: Villitis of unknown aetiology (VUA) is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome. Consequently, an ability to predict recurrence could be clinically relevant. We examined placentas where villitis was diagnosed in a previous pregnancy to establish the risk of recurrence and outcome. A total of 304 cases of VUA were diagnosed in our laboratory over a 4-year period. Subsequently, 19 of this cohort had a second placenta examined histologically. Recurrence and clinical outcome were recorded. Villitis recurred in 7 of 19 cases (37%). There was a high level of adverse pregnancy outcome in this cohort overall, characterised by small for gestational age infants and stillbirth, particularly in cases with high-grade villitis. We identified recurrent villitis more frequently than previously reported. Our findings confirm an association between high-grade villitis and poor outcome. Adequately powered prospective studies are required to determine if enhanced surveillance of subsequent pregnancies is indicated following a diagnosis of villitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feeley
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Mooney
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007249:Inflammation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors