Comparative Histological study of Normal human placentae with Hypertensive placentae in Western part of Tamilnadu state (Kongunadu region)

Abstract

Background: Placenta forms an intimate bonding between the mother and the foetus. Apart from gaseous exchange, transport of nutrients from mother to the foetus, any disease or disorder affecting the mother also reflects the foetus. Hypertension during antenatal period produces maternal vasospasm and vascular damage due to luminal constriction of uterine spiral arterioles causing histological changes in the placenta and ultimately leads to foetal hypoxia and death. Aim of the study: To compare the histological features between the normal and hypertensive placenta. Materials and Methods: 30 normal and 30 hypertensive placentae were collected, processed in the Department of Anatomy, Karpagam Faculty of Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, and visualised under light microscope and their histological features are noted. Results: Various histological features obtained are Syncytial knots, Fibrinoid necrosis, Calcification of Placenta, Placental infarction, Stromal fibrosis, Hypovascularity of Villous, Intervillous fibrin deposition and Basement membrane thickening. Conclusion: In our study, the histological features are more prominent and their areas in microscopic field is noted more in hypertensive placentae than normal placentae.Histtological features are mainly due to maternal vasospasm and vascular endothelial injury.The statistical analysis calculated for the histological features was found to be significant. KEY WORDS: Placenta, Hypertension, Histology, Syncytial knots, Calcification.