Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
Published on: November 20, 2015
Acute and massive bleeding from placenta previa and infants' brain damage
Ken Furuta1, Shuichi Tokunaga1, Seishi Furukawa1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Perinatal Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Faculty of Medicine, Miyazaki, Japan.
Background:
Among the causes of third trimester bleeding, the impact of placenta previa on cerebral palsy is not well known.
Aims:
To clarify the effect of maternal bleeding from placenta previa on cerebral palsy, and in particular when and how it occurs.
Study Design:
A descriptive study.
Subjects:
Sixty infants born to mothers with placenta previa in our regional population-based study of 160,000 deliveries from 1998 to 2012. Premature deliveries occurring at<26 weeks of gestation and placenta accreta were excluded.
Outcome Measures:
Prevalence of cystic periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) and cerebral palsy (CP).
Results:
Five infants had PVL and 4 of these infants developed CP (1/40,000 deliveries). Acute and massive bleeding (>500g within 8h) occurred at around 30-31 weeks of gestation, and was severe enough to deliver the fetus. None of the 5 infants with PVL underwent antenatal corticosteroid treatment, and 1 infant had mild neonatal hypocapnia with a PaCO2 <25mmHg. However, none of the 5 PVL infants showed umbilical arterial acidemia with pH<7.2, an abnormal fetal heart rate monitoring pattern, or neonatal hypotension.
Conclusions:
Our descriptive study showed that acute and massive bleeding from placenta previa at around 30 weeks of gestation may be a risk factor for CP, and requires careful neonatal follow-up. The underlying process connecting massive placental bleeding and PVL requires further investigation.
Related Concept Videos
Hemorrhagic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology
Hemorrhagic Stroke l: Introduction
Disorders of Hemostasis
Thromboembolic Disorders
Two factors primarily cause thromboembolic conditions.
Fetal Circulation
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology
Increased Intracranial Pressure ll: Pathophysiology

