Manifestations of pseudoxanthoma elasticum during pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature.

A 30-year-old white woman with pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) was followed throughout her pregnancy with several fetal ultrasonographic examinations and other diagnostic studies; these showed normal development up to the 26th wk and then a marked deceleration of fetal growth. The ultrasonographic appearance of the placenta was abnormal at all times probably related to the microscopic changes. The baby, born at 36 wk, showed severe intrauterine growth retardation as a probable consequence of the abnormal placenta detected by ultrasound and corroborated at birth. The cotyledons were small and more numerous than normal. One third of the placenta was hypoplastic or atrophic, with focal calcification in septa, stroma, villi, and decidua, and increased deposition of fibrin around villi. The most striking change was the increased number of septa and the abnormal elastic tissue.