Decidual Vasculopathy of the Placenta in Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

BECAUSE of its prevalence in women of child-bearing age, systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) has been of particular concern to obstetricians. Recent reports of the clinical features and complications of pregnancy in patients with this disease have appeared. In most of these series, there is a high incidence of abortion, perinatal death, and prematurity, yet the mechanism of these complications has not been adequately explained. Although the placenta is an essential component of a viable fetal-maternal unit, it has been ignored in most of these series. In order to find some clues to the pathogenesis of lupus-induced fetal injury, we reviewed . . .