DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i07.072

Pages: 2915-2919

Placenta is a vital organ for maintaining pregnancy and promoting normal growth by transfer of essential nutrients between fetus and mother. Any morphological alteration of the placenta affects the growth of fetus leading to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). The purpose of this study was to find out morphological and histopathological changes of placenta and to evaluate correlation of IUGR and placental histology. This study included 400 pregnant patients whose fetuses had intrauterine growth restriction and 200 patients with normal foetal growth. Gross and histopathological features of placentas of both groups were studied, analysed by student's t test and compared with chi square test. p values of < 0.05 were considered significant. Gross features, weight, thickness and calcification in study group show significant increase in value (p < 0.05) compared to control group and histopathology of placenta in study group also shows significant increase in syncytial knots formation, cytotrophoblastic proliferation, stromal fibrosis and calcification as compared to control group. To conclude, whatever may be the cause of IUGR, these morphological and histopathological changes lead to decrease blood to the placenta and this restriction of blood flow ultimately causes IUGR in the foetus.