title: Severe intra- and periventricular hemorrhage: role of arteriolosclerosis related to maternal smoke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors aimed to describe the atherosclerotic lesions of the cerebral arterioles as a substrate of their rupture and bleeding.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed on the brain of nine Caucasian fetal victims of intra- and periventricular hemorrhage, all grade IV, and nine control cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the nine victims of hemorrhage, the arteriolar wall structure was altered, focally transformed into a deposit of amorphous eosinophilic material. Such changes often affected the full thickness of the wall causing rupture and hemorrhage. In eight of these cases and in two victims of the control group, the mothers were heavy cigarette smokers (15-20 cigarettes/day) before and during pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors conclude that intra- and periventricular hemorrhage can be ascribed to the toxic effects of prenatal absorption of nicotine.
authors: Lino Rossi Research Center for the Study and Prevention of Unexpected Perinatal Death and SIDS-Department of Surgical, Reconstructive and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. luigi.matturri@unimi.it
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Matturri
authors: Donatella
authors: D
authors: Mecchia
authors: Anna M
authors: AM
authors: Lavezzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050379:Arteriolosclerosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult