Intrarenal Vascular Lesions Associated with Pre-Eclampsia

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Abstract
This review summarizes the many factors which might be responsible for the renal vascular manifestations associated with the acute phase or pre-eclampsia. It also focuses attention on the presence of previously unsuspected abnormalities of the more proximal intrarenal vessels, disturbances of renal hemodynamics and abnormalities of platelet kinetics and fibrinolysis which can be demonstrated in patients following an episode of pre-eclampsia despite relatively normal appearances of cortical arteries and arterioles. These renal, vascular and hematological abnormalities may occur as a result of pre-eclampsia or may antedate this complication of pregnancy. This last suggestion remains an intriguing possibility as does the suggestion that similar vascular lesions may also be present in other tissues and be responsible for the increased tendency of certain patients to develop recurring episodes of pre-eclampsia and late-onset hypertension.