GROSS PATHOLOGY OF THE PLACENTA IN INTRAUTERINE GROWTH-RETARDATION

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 70  (6) , 316-322
Abstract
A prospective study of placental pathology in intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) was performed in 223 [human] placentas during a 10-yr period. The material is divided into subgroups with or without hypertensive complications of pregnancy. Velamentous insertion, single umbilical artery (SUA) and placental infarcts occurred more frequently in the IUGR group than in a reference material comprising 500 normal deliveries. Such a prevalence was not observed with marginal insertion, circumvallate placenta or true knot formation. Velamentous insertion and SUA, probably comprising the fetal blood circulation to some extent, occurred more frequently in the normotensive group than in the hypertensive group. Of 11 cases with SUA, 7 were associated with fetal malformations. Anomalies in the placenta and in the umbilical cord affecting the fetal blood circulation are simple to recognize by eye. A routinely performed examination of the placenta in the delivery department may help to clarify the pathogenesis of retarded fetal growth in normotensive pregnancy.

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