To shed light on the role of relaxin in cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) in adults and children, the authors investigated endothelial cell (EC) expression of relaxin 1, 2, and 3; vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 and -2 (VEGFR-1 and -2); Ki-67; vascular geometry; and hemorrhage, as well as the clinical presentation of 32 patients with surgically resected lesions.
Positive immunostaining for VEGF, PlGF, and Flt-1 was observed in infiltrated neutrophils and macrophages in the placentas with chorioamnionitis (CAM).