Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 19, 2025

The 4-vessel Sampling Approach to Integrative Studies of Human Placental Physiology In Vivo
Published on: August 2, 2017
Maternal vs Fetal Origin of Placental Intervillous Thrombi
Madina Sukhanova1, Leena B Mithal2,3, Sebastian Otero3
1Departments of Pathology, Chicago, IL, USA.
Objectives:
To determine maternal vs fetal origin for blood in placental intervillous thrombi (IVTs).
Methods:
We used comparative analysis of microsatellites (short tandem repeats [STRs]), sex chromosome fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for fetal (ɑ-fetoprotein [AFP]) and maternal (immunoglobulin M [IgM]) serum proteins to distinguish the origin of IVTs. Using an informatics approach, we tested the association between IVTs and fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH).
Results:
In 9 of 10 cases, the preponderance of evidence showed that the thrombus was mostly or entirely maternal in origin. In 1 case, the thrombus was of mixed origins. STR testing was prone to contamination by entrapped fetal villi. FISH was useful but limited only to cases with male fetuses. IgM showed stronger staining than AFP in 9 cases, supporting maternal origin. By informatics, we found no association between IVTs and FMH.
Conclusions:
Evidence supports a maternal origin for blood in IVTs. IHC for IgM and AFP may be clinically useful in determining maternal vs fetal contribution to IVTs.
More Related Videos
09:33Three-dimensional Rendering and Analysis of Immunolabeled, Clarified Human Placental Villous Vascular Networks
Published on: March 29, 2018
09:04Guide Wire Assisted Catheterization and Colored Dye Injection for Vascular Mapping of Monochorionic Twin Placentas
Published on: September 5, 2011
Related Concept Videos
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...
Development of Blood Vessels
The initial formation of this system is facilitated by the small amount of yolk present in the ovum and yolk sac. Blood vessels originate from...
Transcytosis of IgG
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
Venous Thrombosis I: Introduction