Ki-67 proliferation index in patients with placenta previa percreta in the third trimester

The purpose of this study was to investigate proliferative capacity of placenta previa percreta in the third trimester via evaluating Ki-67 proliferating index.

The paraffin blocks of placental tissues, which were obtained from the patients who underwent hysterectomy for placenta previa percreta (n = 12, gestational age > 28 weeks), from legal abortions (n = 12, gestational age < 10 weeks), and of cesarean deliveries with the indication of previous cesarean section, without any complication (n = 12, gestational age > 38 weeks), between January 2011 and April 2013, were included into the study. The paraffin blocks of the patients were stained with Ki-67 (proliferating cell marker) immunohistochemically, and Ki-67 proliferation index levels were calculated.

Ki-67 proliferation index levels were higher in patients with legal abortions than patients with placenta percreta or noncomplicated cesarean delivery group. However, any statistically significant difference was not detected between the percreta and noncomplicated groups (p > 0.05).

The tissue samples of the patients with placenta previa percreta exhibited low proliferative capacity similar to the samples of normal placentation group.