GENESIS AND SIGNIFICANCE OF SO-CALLED ASP HYXIA INFILTRATES OF THE PLACENTA .2. IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL FINDINGS

We investigated the morphologically distinct forms of inflammatory inf iltration of the placenta both histologically and immunohistologically (n = 24). Our material included cases of membranous inflammation (cho rioamnionitis), inflammatory infiltration of arteries in the chorionic membrane, basal and intervillous placentitis. NACE staining was used to detect myeloid cells and monoclonal antibodies (LCA, CD3, CD8, CD20 , CD68). To detect lymphoid and macrophageal cells we also measured th e proliferation activity with MiB 1. In cases of chorioamnionitis and subchorial demarcation and in the arteries of the chorionic membranes the main inflammatory cell is the myeloid cell (most often the mature neutrophil granulocyte). T-lymphocytes were only occasionelly found. I n cases of intervillous placentitis, on the other hand, lymphocytic in filtration predominates, consisting of T-lymphocytes which are mostly CD8 negative, and some monocytes and macrophages. Basal inflammation i n the demarcation zone was characterized by T-lymphocytes. We interpre t this as indicating basal demarcation. According to our histological and immunohistological observations, ''asphyxial infiltrates'' are abo rtive forms of a placental (bacteriological) inflammation, possibly in fective in origin. We do not consider asphyxial infiltration to be a s eparate entity with its own causal pathogenesis.