To date, the most recent specific diagnostic investigations for amniotic fluid embolism have been unable to conclusively identify any mechanism of disease other than a physical block to the circulation. We selected eight fatal cases in previously healthy women with uneventful singleton term pregnancies who presented to tertiary care centers in Italy for delivery. Pathologic features were assessed immu- nohistochemically using anti-fibrinogen, anti-tryptase, anti- C3a, and anti-cytokeratin antibodies. AE1/AE3 cytokeratin stains proved positive, and tryptase-positive material was documented outside pulmonary mast cells. In all studied cases, expression of complement C3a was twofold lower than in the control group, suggesting a possible complement activation in AFE, initiated by fetal antigen leaking into the maternal circulation.

Complement C3a expression and tryptase degranulation as promising histopathological tests for diagnosing fatal amniotic fluid embolism.

FINESCHI, VITTORIO;RIEZZO, IRENE;Cantatore, Santina;POMARA, CRISTOFORO;TURILLAZZI, EMANUELA;NERI, MARGHERITA
2009-01-01

Abstract

To date, the most recent specific diagnostic investigations for amniotic fluid embolism have been unable to conclusively identify any mechanism of disease other than a physical block to the circulation. We selected eight fatal cases in previously healthy women with uneventful singleton term pregnancies who presented to tertiary care centers in Italy for delivery. Pathologic features were assessed immu- nohistochemically using anti-fibrinogen, anti-tryptase, anti- C3a, and anti-cytokeratin antibodies. AE1/AE3 cytokeratin stains proved positive, and tryptase-positive material was documented outside pulmonary mast cells. In all studied cases, expression of complement C3a was twofold lower than in the control group, suggesting a possible complement activation in AFE, initiated by fetal antigen leaking into the maternal circulation.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11369/17624
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact