Placental laterality as a predictor for development of preeclampsia

To find whether placental laterality as determined by ultrasound can be used as predictor for the development of preeclampsia.

This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Govt. Medical College, Jammu from 2006 to 2007. 150 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic both OPD and IPD at 18-24 weeks of gestation without any high risk factor were subjected to ultrasound examination, and placental location was determined. These cases were followed for the development of signs and symptoms of preeclampsia.

Out of the total 150 women, 84 (56 %) had laterally located placenta and of them, 56 (66.6 %) developed preeclampsia, while the remaining 66 (44 %) had centrally located placenta and of them, 24 (36.3 %) developed preeclampsia. So, the overall risk of developing preeclampsia with laterally located placenta was 5.09 (odds ratio) and 95 % confidence interval (2.40-10.88). The difference was found to be statistically significant, p value (0.00002) by χ(2) test.

From the above study, we concluded that females with laterally located placenta determined by USG at 18-24 weeks of gestation have five times greater risk of developing preeclampsia.