Histological Changes in the Placentae from Severe Anaemic Mothers

Abstract

The information provided from the pathological assessment of the placenta may provide important clinical information for both the mother and the neonate. Anaemia in pregnancy is a well recognized obstetric hazard, observed more frequently in developing countries. The present study was undertaken to analyze placental changes in the anaemia with a view to assess the significance of villous abnormalities by histopathological methods. Placentae from thirty mothers with uncomplicated pregnancy as control group and thirty mothers with severe anaemia as study group were studied. It was found that mothers with severe anaemia had smaller placentae. Gross examination of placentae revealed presence of foci of calcification and infarction. On light microscopic examination, the striking villous abnormalities were observed in the study group which included increased syncytial knot formation, stromal fibrosis, fibrinoid necrosis, medial coat proliferation of foetal blood vessels leading to obliterative endarteritis, intervillous haemorrhage, calcification, hyalinisation of the villi and cytotrophoblastic cell proliferation. These findings were on higher side in the study group than in the control group. The histomorphological findings of placenta in anaemic mothers might be an adaptation to maternal hypoxia.