Vascular disruption in pregnancy: A focus on the placenta and its role in adverse pregnancy outcomes
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Maternal exposure to environmental contaminants is an increasingly recognized risk factor for the development of various adverse pregnancy outcomes, including fetal growth restriction and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. At the heart of many of these conditions are alterations in blood flow that can reduce the blood supply to the fetus, thereby impacting fetal weight. Further, such defects in blood flow can result in distress to the uterine vasculature and placenta, contributing to the severe pregnancy complication of preeclampsia. This webinar will review the cardiovascular changes during pregnancy and how perturbations in these processes contribute to the pathogenesis of disorders that impact maternal health and fetal development. Finally, this webinar will focus on the role of the placenta in driving the remodeling of the vasculature during gestation and how chemical toxicants may disrupt these delicate processes. This abstract does not reflect US EPA policy.