Evaluation of Placental Histopathology and It's Co-relation with Pregnancy Complications and Neonatal Outcome

The placental examination provides important information about the effect of maternal abnormalities on the placenta or the cause of preterm delivery, fetal growth restriction, or fetal neurodevelopmental damage. Placental anatomical and pathologic lesions are usually associated with pregnancy complications and neonatal impaired outcome.

We included in our study 100 patients with gestational age of 37-40 weeks. These cases have been then subdivided into the following study groups: Group A: 50 placentas from pathological pregnancies; and, Group B: a control group of 50 physiological or normal pregnancies due to the absence of maternal, fetal, and early neonatal pathologies.

In group of complicated pregnancies (Group A), most common complication was severe pre-eclampsia (20%) followed by Gestational hypertension (18%) and Anaemia (16%). Abnormal placental findings were seen in 42% in Group A and in 24% patients in group B. C. Over all neonatal complications were significant significantly high in group A compared to Group B (60% and 36%). LBW (40% and 22%), Need for NICU admission (52% and 32%) and APGAR Score < 7, (8% and 2%) were significantly high in group A compared to Group B. One neonate was expired in Group A and in Group B, no mortality seen.

Present study shows that identification of placental histology can be associated with pregnancy outcomes and complications. Understanding Placental histology could help in association with biological markers or more sophisticated instruments for early diagnosis.