The effect of pregnancy‐induced hypertensive disorders on placental growth along short and long axes and neonatal outcomes. (5th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Phad, Neelkanth; Dahlstrom, Jane E.; Ellwood, David; Kent, Alison L.
• Is Part Of: Australian and New Zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology. Volume 55:Number 3(2015)
• Page Start: 239
• Page End: 244
• Publication Date: 2015-06-05
• Subjects: Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Gynecology -- Periodicals; 618.05
• DOI: 10.1111/ajo.12308
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0004-8666

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ajo12308-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="ajo12308-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>To assess the effect of pregnancy‐induced hypertensive disorders on the growth of the placenta on the short and long axes and neonatal outcomes.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajo12308-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Materials and Methods</title> <p>A retrospective cohort study of gross and histological characteristics of placentas and the fetal outcomes of normotensive and hypertensive pregnancies over a three‐year period from January 2009 to December 2011 at a tertiary teaching hospital in ACT, Australia.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajo12308-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Placentas and neonatal outcomes from 100 pregnancies complicated with pregnancy‐induced hypertension/pre‐eclampsia were studied and compared with 51 gestational age‐matched placentas and neonatal outcomes from normotensive pregnancies. The median maternal age and smoking history were similar in the two groups (<italic>P</italic> = 0.894; <italic>P</italic> = 1.00, respectively). The median pre‐pregnancy weight was significantly higher (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001) and primiparity more common (<italic>P</italic> = 0.001) in the study group. The median weight of the placenta was significantly lower (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001) and below the 10th centile (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001) in the study group. Both the long and short axes of the placental disc were significantly smaller in the study group (<italic>P</italic> = 0.002; <italic>P</italic> ≤ 0.001 respectively). Accelerated villous maturation, placental infarcts and decidual vessel vasculopathy were more common in the study group (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001). The median birthweight and the number of infants with birthweight and length below the 10th centile were significantly higher in the study group (<italic>P</italic> = 0.008; <italic>P</italic> < 0.001; <italic>P</italic> = 0.004, respectively).</p> </sec> <sec id="ajo12308-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>This study demonstrates that pregnancy‐induced hypertension significantly influences the growth and development of both the placenta and fetus.</p> </sec> </abstract>