Human Placentae in Pregnancy Induced Hypertension - A Histologic and Morphometric Analysis

Introduction: Placenta is the mirror of maternal and fetal status. It has been called a pregnancy diary that permits the clinician to study the intra uterine environment of the fetus and some of the fetal responses to disease. Reduced maternal utero placental blood flow leading indirectly to constriction of foetal stem arteries has been associated with the changes seen in the placentae of pre-eclamptic women. Maternal vasospasm leads to fetal hypoxia, causing fetal distress and death. Histopathological changes related to confined placental mosaicism may be associated within adequate placentation and retroplacental ischemia. Aim: To study morphometry and histological changes in placentae of women with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and to observe the perinatal outcome of such pregnancies. Materials: Total number of 50 placentae were used for the present study, out of which 25 placentae were obtained from women with PIH and 25 placentae from women who were normal having uncomplicated full-term deliveries. Results: The mean weight of the placenta was 470.04g in control group and 385.70g in PIH group. Histopathological examination of the placentain PIH showed increase in number of syncytial knots and areas of fibrinoid necrosis. Conclusion: PIH has remarkable influence on morphology and histology of the placenta, and there by affects the growth of fetus. The changes caused by placental insufficiency has an adverse affect on the neonatal birth weight due to compromised utero-placental blood flow.