[Correlation of the histological and cytogenetic pictures in placental tissue from early abortion. Does immunohistochemistry have a role?].

Ninety-four cases of early abortion have been studied. Five histological groups of lesion have been identified by routine histological techniques on abortion materials, group I corresponding to partial hydatidiform mole. Cytogenetic analyses have revealed chromosome anomalies in near 50% of cases with a prevalence of triploidies followed by trisomies and monosomies. Normal histological findings are more often associated with normal karyotypes and group I with abnormal karyotypes but a specific correlation between histological pattern and cytogenetic anomalies is lacking. Neither some histochemical reactions nor the well preserved immunohistochemical reactivities of beta-hCG, hPL, PLAP, AFP, cytokeratin, vimentin, desmin, factor VIII, CD 68, MIB1 (growth fraction), EGF-R, p53 and c-erbB-2 oncoproteins have disclosed specific chromosome anomalies. They have only allowed a better definition of histological groups. A simple histological evaluation, although extended to immunohistochemical reaction may not substitute the cytogenetic analyses, not even for purposes of preselection.