"The role of the placental bed in normal pregnancy and its complications has been intensively investigated for 50 years, following the introduction of a technique for placental bed biopsy. It is now recognized that disorders of the maternal-fetal interface in humans have been implicated in a broad range of pathologic conditions, including spontaneous abortion, preterm labor, preterm premature rupture of membranes, pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, abruptio placentae and fetal death"--Provided by publisher.