Morphological study on full term placenta of the maternal pregnancy anaemia with intrauterine growth restricted

Abstract

Placentae  from  50 pregnant  women  were  collected  from  Albatool  Obstetrics and  Gynecology   Teaching   Hospital   in  Mosul-Iraq.   Thirty   of  them   belonged   to anaemic  pregnant   women   associated  with  intrauterine   growth  restriction   (IUGR), while  the  other 20  belonged  to uncomplicated   pregnancy  (as a control  group).  The parameters  studied were mean gestational  age, birth weight of babies, mean placental weight, diameter,  surface area, and mean placental  volume. The main  findings in the placentae  from anaemic women were compared  to the control group.
Results  reveal that  there  is a significant  decrease  in mean birth weight, mean placental weight, diameter,  surface area and mean volume  of the placentae  in anaemia of pregnancy  group associated with IUGR as compared with control group.
Alterations  in various  parameters  may be due to compensatory  phenomena  to fulfill   the   demand   of   O,   to   fetus,   subsequently   affecting   the   growing   fetus. Appropriate  precautions  if taken during pregnancy,  complications  due to anaemia can be reduced.
In conclusion,  this study demonstrated  that severe anaemia in pregnant  women alters  the  placental   morphology,   leading   to  fetal   growth  restriction   and  prompt treatment  of  anaemia  must  be  taken  to improve  placental   growth  and  a  favorable obstetric outcome.