Maternal blood coagulation factor XIII is associated with the development of cytotrophoblastic shell

We analysed the early implantation tissues of normal women and of a patient with congenital factor XIII deficiency in order to study the role of maternal subunit A of factor XIII (XIIIA) in the development of extravillous cytotrophoblast. The patient had received adequate administration of factor XIIIA concentrate only up to 7 weeks of gestation (wG). Her pregnancy was maintained until the latter half of 8 wG, but was terminated by intrauterine fetal death at 9 wG. Immunohistochemical staining of cytokeratin, XIIIA and subunit S of factor XIII was performed in the early implantation tissues of normal women and of this patient. Numerous well-formed cytotrophoblastic shells and Nitabuch's layers were detected in implantation tissues at 7-8 wG in normal women, and XIIIA was present in the intercellular space in well-formed cytotrophoblastic shells, while the cytotrophoblastic shells and Nitabuch's layers in this patient's implantation tissue were poorly-formed. Furthermore, XIIIA was not detected around them. It is suggested that when the maternal plasma activity of factor XIII is low, the concentration of XIIIA at the placental bed is also low, leading to the insufficient formation of cytotrophoblastic shell and therefore an increased probability of miscarriage in patients with congenital factor XIII deficiency. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.