Quantitative Analysis of Gross Morphology of Placenta in Normal and Hypertensive Patients

Background: Placenta is an important organ and the growth and development of fetus is dependent on it. The different pregnancy complications as antepartum haemorrhage, postpartum haemorrhage, coagulopathy etc. in mothers and IUGR (intrauterine growth retardation), prematurity etc. in foetus are reflected in the placenta & are associated with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) . They form the major causes of maternal and fetal mortality & morbidity.

Objectives: Quantitative analysis of the changes in gross morphology of placenta in normal and hypertensive pregnancies.

To study the resultant effect on the foetal outcome.

Material & Methods: We had taken 100 placentas of normal & hypertensive group patients each for study .We collected them from the labour room & operation theatre of Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology of our medical college. Gross morphological features of placentas like size, weight, no. of cotyledons , areas of infarction, retroplacental clot, calcification and insertion of umbilical cord etc. were noted and simultaneously the histological study was also done.

Observations & Results: The gross morphological parameters like diameter, size, surface area, number of cotyledons and weight were reduced in hypertensive placentas than normal placentas while areas of infarction, retroplacental clot, calcification were more in hypertensive placentas than normal placentas. (p<0.005) The observed differences were statistically significant.