title: The role of Hofbauer cells on the pathogenesis of early pregnancy loss.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hofbauer cells (HC) are the placental macrophages that play a significant role in many important placental events. The aim of this retrospective study is to investigate the role of HC in the pathogenesis of early pregnancy loss (EPL).
  
  
  METHODS
  The slides were obtained from archival blocks of missed abortion (MA, n = 15) and blighted ovum (BO, n = 15) cases. Unwanted pregnancies materials constituted the control group (n = 15). HC and endothelial cells were identified using immunohistochemical methods. HC were counted under light microscope. The extent of villous vasculature was evaluated using two methods; the Chalkey method and microvessel scoring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean number of villous HC was found to be significantly higher in both MA and BO groups in contrast to the control group. MA group also showed a higher number of HC in comparison with the BO group. Higher microvessel scoring was also found in MA group in contrast to other two groups. Chalkey method revealed no significant difference in the extent of villous vasculature for the control group in comparison with MA and BO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As we identified relatively low quantity of HC in BO associated with defective vasculature, we hypothesize that an inadequate microvessel formation after hypoxic insult can explain the pathogenesis of BO. We believe that HC are increased in MA due to their divergent roles on immunity and inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We therefore conclude that HC may be of biological importance in the pathogenesis of EPL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Dokuz Eylul University, School of Medicine, Inciralti, Izmir 35340 Turkey.
authors.forename: Y A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Karakaya
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozer
mesh_terms: D000030:Abortion, Missed / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage; D020964:Embryo Loss / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055806:Microvessels / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D021041:Placental Circulation; D010929:Placentation; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
keywords: Blighted ovum; Early pregnancy loss; Hofbauer cells; Missed abortion; Placental vascularization