A Cross-Sectional Study Comparing Placental Characteristics in Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension and Sickle Cell Anaemia

Placental health plays a critical role in pregnancy outcomes as it serves as the interface between the mother and fetus. High-risk pregnancies, such as those complicated by pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and sickle cell anaemia (SCA), are associated with significant alterations in placental morphology and histopathology, potentially leading to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. While previous studies have explored placental changes associated with either PIH or SCA, nobody has comparatively analysed these conditions to understand their unique and overlapping effects on placental pathology.

This study aimed to compare and contrast the morphological and histopathological changes in the placenta associated with high-risk pregnancies like PIH and SCA.

A comparative analysis was conducted using data from studies at two different tertiary care centres. The study populations included 100 pregnant women diagnosed with PIH and 56 pregnant women with SCA, alongside a matched control group of 100 healthy pregnant women for the PIH group and 56 healthy pregnant women for the SCA group. Inclusion criteria were restricted to singleton pregnancies in women aged 18 to 35 years with gestational ages ranging from 28 to 40 weeks. Following delivery, placental specimens were collected, and various parameters such as weight, volume, surface area, number of cotyledons, and umbilical cord attachment were meticulously measured. Histopathological examinations were conducted to identify specific pathological features like infarcts, calcifications, syncytial knots, and fibrin deposition. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), with a p-value of less than 0.05 considered statistically significant.

The study revealed significant differences in placental parameters between the PIH and SCA groups compared to their respective controls. Placental weight, volume, and surface area were significantly reduced in both the PIH and SCA groups, with more pronounced reductions observed in PIH (p < 0.001). The umbilical cord attachment was predominantly marginal in the PIH group (75%), compared to a central attachment in the SCA group (70%), suggesting different patterns of placental development. Histopathological analysis demonstrated a higher incidence of infarcts (65% vs. 30%), calcifications (80% vs. 45%), syncytial knots (90% vs. 50%), and fibrin deposition (70% vs. 35%) in the PIH group compared to the SCA group, indicating more severe placental pathology in PIH.

This study offered a comprehensive comparison of placental changes in pregnancies affected by PIH and SCA. It identified both structural abnormalities in terms of placental weight, volume, and surface area and distinctive pathological features like infarctions, calcifications, syncytial knot formation, and fibrin deposits in the placenta. When compared to control groups, these findings strongly suggest that placental dysfunction is a key contributor to the adverse outcomes associated with these high-risk pregnancies.