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Published on: November 20, 2015
Gender differences of placental dysfunction in severe prematurity
Alessandro Ghidini1, Carolyn M Salafia
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC 20007, USA.
BJOG : an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
|January 25, 2005
Summary
Male fetuses born extremely prematurely (<32 weeks) show higher rates of chronic placental inflammation, suggesting a maternal immune response. This placental pathology in male neonates warrants further investigation into its immunologic basis.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Perinatal medicine
- Immunology
Background:
- Obstetric complications can vary with fetal gender.
- Placental histology provides insights into pregnancy outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex differences in placental histology findings in cases of extreme prematurity.
- To determine if fetal gender is associated with specific placental pathologies.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted at a university hospital.
- Histologic findings of 437 deliveries before 32 weeks gestation were compared between male (n=232) and female (n=205) neonates.
- Evaluated lesions included acute and chronic placental inflammation, and uteroplacental and intraplacental vascular pathology.
Main Results:
- While acute inflammation and vascular pathologies showed no significant association with fetal gender, chronic placental inflammation was significantly higher in male fetuses (P=0.001).
- More severe chronic inflammatory lesions in males were concentrated at the implantation site, involving interstitial trophoblast invasion.
- Male fetuses had higher birthweight centiles compared to females, with similar gestational age and placental weight.
Conclusions:
- Male fetal gender is associated with placental lesions indicative of a maternal immune response to interstitial trophoblast in premature deliveries (<32 weeks).
- The immunologic mechanisms underlying these observed placental differences require further research.
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