Correlations of Placental Histopathology, Neonatal Outcome, and Cardiotocogram Baseline Variability and Acceleration...

To evaluate the possible connections of cardiotocography (CTG) signs with neonatal outcome and placental histopathology between growth restricted preterms.

Placental slides, baseline variability, and acceleration patterns of cardiotocograms, and neonatal parameters were studied retrospectively. Placental histopathological changes were diagnosed according to the Amsterdam criteria; percentage of intact terminal villi and capillarization of villi were also studied. 50 cases were analyzed: 24 were early-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR), 26 were late-onset FGR.

Reduced baseline variability was related to poor neonatal outcome; lack of accelerations similarly had associations with poor outcomes. Maternal vascular malperfusion, avascular villi, VUE, and chorangiosis were more common in the background of reduced baseline variability and absence of accelerations. Lower percentage of intact terminal villi was significantly associated with lower umbilical artery pH, higher lactate levels, and reduced baseline variability on CTG; absence of accelerations was correlated with decreased capillarization of terminal villi.

Baseline variability and absence of accelerations seem to be useful and reliable markers in predicting poor neonatal outcome. Maternal and fetal vascular malperfusion signs, decreased capillarization, and lower percentage of intact villi in placenta could contribute to pathologic CTG signs and poor prognosis.