Histologically detectable neutral lipid level in intervillum and villous blood vessels of human placenta--studies of the problem of fat embolism equivalent
Kronawitter, M.; Brunner, P.
Zentralblatt für Gynakologie 104(16): 1020-1027
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-4197 PMID: 7180242 Document Number: 194020
The occurrence of corpuscular neutral fat was investigated in the intervillous space and in villous vessels of 51 human placentae, between the 15th and 42nd weeks of gestation. Fat droplets were not recordable at all from the villous vessels. Neutral fat corpuscles were recorded from 36 of 51 examined placentae in the intervillum. Intensities were mostly minimum or low. Complete blockage of the intervillum by fat droplets was found to be impossible for anatomic reasons. The process, consequently, had to be interpreted as fat embolism equivalent rather than as fat embolism. No major clinical importance was attributed to this fat embolism equivalent on account of low intensity. --Occurrence of fat embolism equivalents in placentae of pregnant women above 26 years of age was higher with significance than that recorded from placentae of women below 26. --Occurrence of fat embolism equivalents was characterised by topographic preferences. Findings from marginal placental areas were more frequent with significance than those from the placental centre. Gestosis and other gestational complications obviously were of no impact whatsoever on occurrence or intensity of fat embolism equivalent. --The assumption was made that most of the fat droplets in intervillous space resulted from instability of protein-lipid bonding in blood.