title: Amniotic fluid embolism: Pathophysiology from the perspective of pathology.
abstract: Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is recognized as a type of syndrome characterized by the abrupt onset of hypoxia, hypotension, seizures, or disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC), occurring during labor, delivery, or immediately postpartum, caused by the inflow of amniotic components into the maternal circulation. AFE is a rare condition but one of the most serious obstetrical complications, resulting in a high mortality rate among pregnant women. Despite earlier recognition and intensive critical management, we often encounter patients who unfortunately do not recover from the exacerbation of AFE-related conditions. A major concern is that there are no effective evidence-based therapies for AFE, because its pathophysiology is still not well understood. This article reviewed AFE, focusing on the pathology and currently proposed pathophysiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoaki
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1461-5618
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
authors.forename: Mustari
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6216-0729
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farhana
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
authors.forename: Naohiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanayama
mesh_terms: D004619:Embolism, Amniotic Fluid / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: amniotic fluid embolism; anaphylactoid reaction; disseminated intravascular coagulopathy; postpartum acute myometritis; postpartum hemorrhage; uterine atony