Grade 3 placentation: incidence and neonatal outcome

Area of Science:

• Perinatal medicine
• Obstetrics
• Medical imaging

Background:

• Ultrasonography is used to assess placental maturity.
• The relationship between placental grade and gestational age is not well-established.
• Previous studies have correlated placental changes with fetal maturity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of placental grades at different gestational ages.
• To evaluate the predictive value of placental grading for postmaturity.
• To investigate the association between placental grade and fetal distress.

Main Methods:

• A one-year study involving 1709 ultrasound scans.
• Placental grading was performed on scans from 27 weeks' gestation onwards.
• Gestational age and placental calcification (Grannum grade) were recorded.

Main Results:

• Only 20% of placentas showed extensive calcification (Grannum grade 3) at 40 weeks' gestation or later.
• Significant placental calcification was uncommon before 37 weeks' gestation.
• Placental grading did not predict postmaturity.

Conclusions:

• Placental grading alone is not a reliable predictor of postmaturity.
• Fetal distress is associated with postmaturity and premature placental senescence, not solely with Grannum grade 3 placentas.
• Ultrasonic placental grading incidence varies significantly with gestational age.