Extracellular Vesicles and Pregnancy-Related Hypertensive Disorders: A Descriptive Review on the Possible Implications “From Bench to Bedside”

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a systemic condition that affects 3 to 5% of pregnant women with new-onset hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation. This syndrome causes maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. The term “extracellular vesicles (EVs)” refers to vesicles released by cells and can be divided into exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies. EVs have an impact on the physiology of pregnancy and on diseases associated with pregnancy because they can be implicated in the communication between the mother and the fetus. The intricate interactions between placental and maternal cell-derived EVs ought to shed light on the mechanisms behind PE. Developing a panel of biomarkers to identify pregnant women at higher risk of developing PE may be made possible through a better understanding of the functions that EVs play in the pathophysiology of PE.