Morphometrical analysis of placental functional efficiency in normotensive versus preeclamptic South African black women

ABSTRACT

Objective: To assess the umbilical cord centrality, placental morphometrics, and functional efficiency in preeclampsia. Methods: Placental morphometry of normotensive (n = 69) and preeclamptic (n = 69) patients was evaluated. Results: There was a significant reduction in mean placental surface area (p = 0.0001), length (p = 0.0001), thickness (p = 0.016), and volume (p = 0.0001) in the preeclamptic than in the normotensive groups. Umbilical cord insertion was predominantly eccentric with marginal in early (29%) and late-onset preeclampsia (16%). Placental and birth weight was lower (p = 0.0001) in preeclampsia than in the normotensive group. Placental efficiency was reduced in early-onset preeclampsia. Conclusion: This study demonstrates reduced placental morphometrics with impaired placental efficiency in preeclampsia.

KEYWORDS:

• Cord insertion
• morphometrics
• placenta
• preeclampsia
• pregnancy

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Anushka Ajith (Department of Optics and Imaging, University of KwaZulu-Natal) for conducting the statistical analysis

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Funding

The authors wish to thank the College of Health Sciences (University of KwaZulu-Natal) for financial support.

Additional information

Funding

The authors wish to thank the College of Health Sciences (University of KwaZulu-Natal) for financial support.