Villous Immaturity in the Term Placenta

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Abstract
Two types of villous immaturity may be seen in the mature placenta. There may be generalized failure of villous maturation, this being a feature of about 10% of placentas from diabetic women and of approximately 1/3 of placentas from cases of rhesus incompatibility. Maturation delay does not occur in toxemia or hypertension. Villous immaturity may be seen in another form, as groups of extremely immature villi scattered throughout an otherwise normally mature villous population. Such an appearance is an indication of fresh, or continuing villous growth. In normal pregnancies villous growth commonly occurs until the 38th week of gestation; some villous growth is detectable until the 41st week but none at 42 weeks. In pregnancies complicated by hypertension or toxemia villous growth appears to cease as early as the 35th week of gestation.

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