A thick placenta: a predictor of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Hiromi Sanai,Yasuhiko Nakamura,Mayumi Torii,Masakatsu Sase,Kazuyuki Ueda,Ichiro Miwa

doi:10.1186/2193-1801-3-353

Hiromi Sanai, Yasuhiko Nakamura + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-1801-3-353

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Journal: SpringerPlus	Publication Date: Jul 11, 2014
Citations: 39	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Yamaguchi Prefecture Central Hospital

Abstract

PurposeThe aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of an ultrasonographic measurement of placental thickness and the correlation of a thick placenta with adverse perinatal outcome.MethodsPlacental thickness was measured in single gravidas, 16 to 40 weeks of gestation, between 2005 and 2009. Placentas were considered to be thick if their measured thickness were above the 95th percentile for gestational age.ResultsThe incidence of thick placentas was 4.3% (138/3,183). Perinatal morbidity and neonatal conditions were worse in cases with thick placenta rather than without thick placenta.ConclusionsUltrasonographic measurement of placental thickness is a simple method to estimate placental size. Thick placenta may be a useful predictor of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Highlights

The placenta is an important organ, maintaining fetal growth and well-being
We evaluate the efficacy of a simple ultrasonographic method of measuring placental thickness and the correlation of a thick placenta with adverse perinatal outcome
Gestational age at delivery was earlier and birth weight was smaller in the cases with thick placenta than in those without thick placenta (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

In 1979, Grannum et al (1979) first described a relation between ultrasonographic findings of the placenta and fetal maturity in high-risk pregnancies. Further researches revealed that morphological findings, such as echogenesity of the placenta (Quinlan et al 1982), sonolucent placental lakes (Haney and Trought 1980; Jauniaux et al 1994; Thompson et al 2002), and thick placenta (Thompson et al 2002), exhibited a poor correlation with perinatal outcome. In several reports (Jauniaux et al 1994; Wolf et al 1989; Elchalal et al 2000; Dombrowski et al 1992; Raio et al 2004), placental size, as measured by various ultrasonographic methods, is a useful predictor of adverse pregnancy outcome. We evaluate the efficacy of a simple ultrasonographic method of measuring placental thickness and the correlation of a thick placenta with adverse perinatal outcome

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