Histomorphology of the placenta and the placental bed of growth restricted foetuses and correlation with the Doppler velocimetries of the uterine and umbilical arteries

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the histomorphology of the placenta and the placental bed and to correlate this with the Doppler study of the uterine and umbilical arteries of intrauterine growth restricted pregnancies. The study group consisted of 47 women with intrauterine growth restricted foetuses. Twenty-five uneventful pregnancies with appropriate for gestational age foetuses were selected as controls. Doppler studies of umbilical and uterine arteries were performed within the last week before delivery. Placental bed biopsies were obtained at Caesarean section with direct visualization of the placental site. The incidence of pathologic bed biopsies in control, IUGR with normal uterine artery Doppler velocimetry and IUGR with abnormal uterine artery Doppler velocimetry was 0 per cent, 16.6 per cent and 79.3 per cent respectively (P < 0.001). Placentae from IUGR cases with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler velocimetries had a significantly increased number of villous infarcts, cytotrophoblast proliferation and thickening of the villous trophoblastic basal membrane (P = 0.001, P = 0.038 and P = 0.02 respectively). Abnormal placental bed biopsy pathology was significantly associated with abnormal uterine artery velocimetry (OR 33.7, 6.5-173.6; P < 0.001). Abnormal placental pathology was significantly associated with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry (OR 21.04, 3.8-115.9; P < 0.001). Women with both abnormal uterine and umbilical artery Doppler velocimetries were delivered earlier and their babies had lower mean birth and placental weight (P < 0.001). In conclusion, placental bed biopsy and placental pathologies are best reflected by abnormal uterine and umbilical artery velocity waveforms, respectively. The most severe clinical outcomes and perinatal mortality are present when both uterine and umbilical districts are altered. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.