Fetoplacental Weight Relationship in Normal Pregnancy and Pregnancy Complicated by Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension and Abruption of Placenta among Mothers Who Gave Birth in Southern Ethiopia, 2018

Abstract

Introduction. Placenta is a complex multifunctional organ that maintains pregnancy and promotes normal fetal development. The fetal outcome is adversely influenced by pathological changes in the placenta because it is a mirror that reflects the intrauterine status of the fetus. Placental abnormalities are considered a leading cause of maternal and prenatal mortality. This study aimed to assess the fetoplacental weight relationship in pregnancy-induced hypertension and abruption placenta and compare with the normal one. Objective. This study designed to assess fetoplacental weight relationships in normal pregnancy and pregnancy complicated by pregnancy-induced hypertension and abruption of placenta among mothers who gave birth in Dilla University Referral Hospital, southern Ethiopia, 2018. Materials and Methods. Institution-based comparative cross-sectional study was used on 50 placentas from mothers with pregnancy-induced hypertension, 50 placentas from mothers with abruption of placenta, and 50 placentas from mothers with normal pregnancy (control) with an age range of 19–34 years. The weight of the placenta and newborn were taken and the fetoplacental ratio was calculated. Results. Placental index as well as the weight of the newborn shows statistically significant (p<0.001) difference in pregnancy-induced hypertension and abruption placenta group compared with the normal group. The mean of the fetoplacental ratio in the normal group was 5.52 ± 0.07, in pregnancy-induced hypertension was 5.15 ± 0.11, whereas the abruption placenta was 4.99 ± 0.82. Conclusion. Both PIH and abruption placenta were associated with remarkable changes in the placenta index such as small placental weight and diameter and results in different kinds of congenital anomalies and low birth weight of the baby. Hence, fetoplacental ratio was altered. The lowest fetoplacental ratio was 4.99 for abruption placenta, and the highest was for a normal group of the placenta which was 5.52. Therefore, an examination of the placenta before and after birth guarantees for feto-maternal health.

Placental weight and its relationship with the birth weight of term infants and body mass index of the mothers

“…In the present study, mean placental weight, neonate birthweight, and birthweight/placental weight ratio were respectively lower, identical, and higher compared with a selection of previously published studies ( Table 5 ). 13 – 19 The present findings support the evidence that placental weight and neonatal birthweight/placental weight ratio vary according to country, ancestry, and ethnicity. However, measurement methods vary widely between studies, particularly due to differences in placental preparations (fresh or fixed placenta), methodology, and purpose of the study.…”

Histomorphometric Variations of the Placenta in Normal and Hypertensive Pregnancies

“…Mehare et al and Goswami et al also reported decrease in FTP ratio in hypertensive groups compared to the normal placentae. 16,17 These findings are consistent with those observed in our study. This decline in FTP may be due to placental insufficiency associated with altered dimension of placental tissue, neonatal morbidity and ultimately with preterm deliveries.…”

The birth of cardiac disease: Mechanisms linking gestational diabetes mellitus and early onset of cardiovascular disease in offspring

“…The placenta operates exclusively during pregnancy, having an essential role in fetal nourishing and protection during fetal development, through the mediation of maternal and fetal interactions, with metabolic, endocrine, excretory, and immunologic associated functions (Gauster et al, 2012). Since it has been observed that adverse fetal outcomes are related to a pathological placental and, therefore, intrauterine environment, the placenta is considered "a mirror," "reflecting" both the maternal and fetal health states (Mehare & Kebede, 2020).…”