Morphohistometric investigations in placentas of gestational diabetes

Perinatal morbidity and mortality are increased in both overt and gestational diabetes. Since retardation of placental development has been documented in overt diabetes, we, thus, examined morphometrically the terminal villi of 26 patients with gestational diabetes in order to determine if there is an immaturity of placental development. Investigation of villous surface, degree of vascularization, and development of epithelial plates yielded values lying somewhere between those of non-diabetic patients and those of patients with overt diabetes. Only the surface areas of the vessels were reduced to levels lower than in overt diabetes. Our findings appear to explain the occasional development of acute placental insufficiency.