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Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is associated with structural and vascular placental abnormalities and leptin

Helen N Jones1, Stephanie K Olbrych2, Kathleen L Smith3

  • 1Divisions of Pediatric Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Placenta
|August 18, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Placentas from fetuses with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) show abnormal structure and reduced weight. These placental abnormalities may contribute to fetal growth issues in HLHS pregnancies.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Pathology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Placental Biology

Background:

  • Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a severe congenital heart defect linked to fetal growth problems.
  • While genetic and environmental factors are implicated, the placenta's role in HLHS pathogenesis remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically investigate placental characteristics in HLHS cases, with and without associated growth abnormalities.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of placental tissues from HLHS singleton births and gestational age-matched controls.
  • Assessment of gross pathology, parenchymal morphology, vascular architecture, and leptin signaling.
  • Correlation with clinical data including birth weight and placental pathology reports.

Main Results:

  • HLHS placentas exhibited significantly reduced weight and increased fibrin deposition compared to controls.
  • Micropathological findings included increased syncytial nuclear aggregates, decreased terminal villi, and reduced vasculature.
  • Elevated leptin expression was observed in syncytiotrophoblast and endothelial cells of HLHS placentas.

Conclusions:

  • Abnormal placental morphology in HLHS suggests an immature structure potentially caused by vascular issues.
  • Increased placental leptin may represent a compensatory mechanism for vascular abnormalities.
  • Further research on fetal and placental angiogenesis is crucial for understanding HLHS and related growth deviations.
Abstract

Keywords:
AngiogenesisCongenital heart diseaseVascular biology

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