Histological changes of human placenta in early intrauterine growth restriction with and without preeclampsia

Abstract

Background: Intra uterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a common pregnancy complication, pre-eclamsia (PE) is an importantcause of this complication and is responsible for maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Idiopathic intrauterine growthrestriction without obvious causes is not uncommon.Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the placental histology in both conditions trying to find specific criteria for eachdisorder.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on three groups; group I was the control group, group II was preeclampsiainduced IUGR (PE-IUGR) group and group III was idiopathic IUGR (I-IUGR). Each group contained 15 placentas. Placentalspecimens from each group were analyzed histopathologically and immunohistochemically.Results: we found that PE-IUGR and I-IUGR cases in this study share common histological changes suggesting a similarpathogenesis. Maternal mal-perfusion lesions predominated in PE-IUGR. Findings consistent with fetal vascular malperfusionwere higher in I-IUGR. Hofbauer cells (HBC) were increased in both PE-IUGR and I-IUGR.Conclusion: abnormal utero-placental blood vessels and utero-placental insufficiency and the resulting histological changes inthe chorionic villi, and chronic inflammatory lesions may be the primary disease processes related to the placental pathologyof PE-IUGR and I-IUGR.