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Updated: Oct 29, 2025
Three-dimensional Rendering and Analysis of Immunolabeled, Clarified Human Placental Villous Vascular Networks
Published on: March 29, 2018
In vitro fertilization is associated with placental accelerated villous maturation
Ambrogio P Londero1, Maria Orsaria2, Nadia Parisi1
1Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, DAME, University of Udine, University Hospital of Udine Italy.
Objective:
Accelerated placental maturation is regarded as a sign of vascular malperfusion and is often interpreted as a compensatory response by the placenta. In vitro embryo culture affects placental development. This study assessed placental maturation in spontaneous conceived and in vitro conceived pregnancies.
Methods:
Retrospective cohort study on a single center between 2014 and 2017. For this study, preterm placentas of singleton pregnancies between 24 and 36 weeks were considered. Routine placental examinations were retrospectively reviewed.
Results:
During the considered period, 423 placentas of singleton pregnancies were assessed. Three hundred ninety-six placentas were from spontaneous conception and 20 from in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF/ET). IVF/ET was significantly associated with accelerated villous maturation (AVM) and distal villous hypoplasia (DVH) (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
Placental AVM and DVH were significantly associated with in vitro fertilization in singleton pregnancies. This result supports the hypothesis that AVM is a compensatory response by the placenta to improve its transport capacity in specific settings such as in vitro fertilization.
