[Morphometric studies of the placentas of hypertrophic newborn infants]

In a total of 31 placentae from new-born children weighing between 4000 g and 4499 g at birth and in 64 placentae from new-born children with standard weight, the relative surface of the villous vessels and the relative volumes of the villous epithelium, of the stroma and of the villous vessels are determined by the morphometric method. These morphometric parameters, which are characterising the villous vascularization and the relative placental area of exchange, are slightly greater for the placentae from overweight children compared to the values of the control group. The oral glucose tolerance test performed on the 3rd puerperal day appears to be normal in all 31 test persons. 20 mothers are overweight and their average height is about 173 cm. The results of the present study are related to the corresponding literature.