DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i01.0043

Pages: 205-208

Placenta acts as a mirror which reflects intrauterine status of fetus. It is the most accurate record of infant’s prenatal experiences, so study of placenta gives valuable clues in cases of adverse fetal outcome. The study of placenta is a combined team work of an obstetrician, a pediatrician, a pathologist, an anatomist, a biochemist and an endocrinologist. A complete picture of placental function emerges through this team work. Objective of this study is to study and correlate morphometric changes occurring in the placenta of normal and hypertensive pregnancies that help in the assessment of the state of the well being of the foetus in utero. Total 510 placentae (220 from normal and 290 from hypertensive pregnancies) were collected. The parameters studied were mean birth weight of babies, mean placental weight, mean placental surface area, mean placental volume and mean foeto-placental weight ratio. Results reveal that there is significant decrease in mean birth weight, mean placental weight, mean surface area and mean volume of the placenta in toxaemia of pregnancy group as compared with control group. Mean foeto-placental weight ratio is higher in toxaemic group than in control group. Alterations in various parameters may be attributed to the effect of ischaemia produced by hypertension on the placenta, subsequently affecting the foetus in the womb of mother. Appropriate precautions if instituted during pregnancy, complications of PIH can be reduced.