Objective: The aim of the study was to compare immunohistochemical expression of different T type lymphocytes in foci of villitis of placentae with villitis of unknown etiology (VUE) without and with preeclampsia (PE).
Methods: Fifty-four placentae were collected from women who had VUE with (N = 27) and without (N = 27) PE. Immunohistochemistry for types of T lymphocytes was performed on formalin fixed and paraffin-embedded sections by use of the CD3, CD4, FOXP3, CD25, CD8 and CD68 antibodies. All data analyses were done by R Development Core Team.
Results: There was higher immunohistochemical CD4 positive T lymphocyte count and CD4 positive/CD8 positive ratio in placentae with VUE complicated with PE compared to control group.
Conclusion: The higher immunohistochemical CD4 positive T lymphocyte count and CD4 positive/CD8 positive ratio in placentae with VUE complicated with PE could point to their role in ethiopathogenesis of PE.
Keywords: Preeclampsia; T lymphocytes; villitis of unknown etiology.