Placental measurements and their association with birth weight in a Brazilian cohort

Abstract

Introduction: Epidemiological studies have shown associations between placental measurements and perinatal and later life outcomes. Objectives: To report placental measurements and evaluate their association with birth weight in a Brazilian birth cohort. Methods: Retrospective cohort study with 958 mothers, placentas, and newborns delivered at the Ribeirão Preto Medical School Hospital, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, in 2010 and 2011. The information was collected from interviews, medical records, and pathology reports. The placental measurements were: weight, largest and smallest diameters, eccentricity, thickness, shape, area, and birth weight/placental weight and placental weight/birth weight ratios. We analyzed the associations between birth weight and placental measurements using multiple linear regression. Results: Placental weight alone accounted for 48% of birth weight variability (p < 0.001), whereas placental measurements combined (placental weight, largest and smallest diameters, and thickness) were responsible for 50% (p < 0.001). When adjusted for maternal and neonatal characteristics, placental measurements explained 74% of birth weight variability (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Placental measurements are powerful independent predictors of birth weight. Placental weight is the most predictive of them, followed by the smallest diameter.

Growth phenotypes of very low birth weight infants for prediction of neonatal outcomes from a Brazilian cohort: comparison with INTERGROWTH

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Morphometric and Morphologic Assessment of the Placenta, Birth Weight and Associated Risk Factors in Full Term Neonates in Nigeria

“…This finding has been reported by several researchers [4,[13][14][15]. "The size, morphology and nutrient transfer capacity of the placenta determine the prenatal growth trajectory of the fetus to influence birth weight" [14][15][16][17].…”

Association Between Maternal Fasting Plasma Glucose Value and Fetal Weight Among Singletons of Mothers with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

“…Moreover, our data indicated that fetal weight was significantly correlated with placental weight, which was consistent with previous studies. 27 , 28 Additionally, we divided our study population into those carrying male and female fetuses. OGTT results showed no significant intergroup differences.…”