Massive chronic feto-maternal bleeding associated with placental chorioangiomas

After pregnancy complicated by polyhydramnios and the antenatal discovery of a very large placenta a newborn infant suffered from anemia, thrombocytopenia and hypoproteinemic edema, and was successfully treated by exchange transfusion. The placenta contained two chorioangiomas and there was diffuse placental hypertrophy with edema and patchy chorioangiomatosis. There was evidence of major chronic feto-maternal bleeding which could be the explanation for most of the hematological and biochemical problems which occurred. The child was developing normally at subsequent follow-up aged 15 weeks.