Histological changes of placentas associated with intra-uterine growth restriction of fetuses: a case control study

Placenta is the maternal-fetal contact zone. The placentas of "idiopathic" intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) babies may hold the key to the etiology of growth restriction. The present study primarily aimed at evaluating the structural peculiarities of IUGR placenta. The study was conducted on 35 IUGR and 25 control placentas. Placental tissues were processed for routine histological studies, to determine numbers of syncytial knots in villi and X-cells in the basal plate. Light microscopy suggested that syncytiotrophoblastic lining was more degenerated and number of syncytial knots increased in IUGR placentas than that of the control placentas. X cells were present in both the cases, though more in IUGR. Intravillous and perivillous fibrin depositions were markedly increased in IUGR; also there were more hypovascular/avascular villi and large areas of infarction. Cumulative effects of several placental injuries, e.g. poor perfusion, presence of increased number of X-cells, increased fibrin deposition; etc for a sufficient time were likely cause of IUGR.