Vascular Pathology: Vascular Disease: Effects of Pulmonary Hypertension

A 1951 autopsy specimen, from a 34 year old woman who was known to have suffered from rheumatic carditis since the age of eleven. Despite leading a restricted life she had married and given birth to two children. She was suddenly taken ill with vaginal blood loss during the night two days prior to her death. On admission she was tachypnoeic, cyanosed and orthopnoeic. Despite aggressive management she died. Autopsy showed a seven to eight weeks pregnancy with placental disruption.