Abstract
Advanced maternal age is known to be a risk factor for placental dysfunctions. The most common obstetric complications among older women would be considered as follows: gestational diabetes; pre-eclampsia; placenta praevia; preterm premature rupture of membranes and the risk of preterm delivery. The aims of research were to determine the impact of maternal age on the structure of terminal villi. The study was conducted on 60 human placentae of term pregnancy divided into two groups: the control group (30 placentae in pregnant women of age between 20 and 34) and the experimental group (30 placentae in pregnant women of 35 years of age and older). Stereological methods were applied to determine the volume density, surface density, total volume and total capillary surface area in terminal villi of placenta. The mean value of volume density of capillaries in terminal villi of placentae in older pregnant women is: Vvkks = (0,376 +/- 0,033) mm(0), and the mean value of total volume is: Vkks = (157,047 +/- 25,022) cm(3). The mean value of surface density is: Svkks = (64,783 +/- 2,543) mm(-1), and the mean value of total surface area is: Skks = (29,959 +/- 7,873) m(2). Volume density of capillaries in terminal villi of placentae is significantly lower in older pregnant women (p<0.001) in comparison to the younger pregnant women. The total volume, surface density and total capillary surface area in terminal villi of placentae are also significantly lower in older pregnant women (p<0.005) in comparison to the younger pregnant women. Statistically significant lower values of volume density, total volume, surface density and total capillary surface area indicate that there is a decreased metabolic transfer between mother and foetus.
Highlights
Optimal age of woman for pregnancy and delivery is between and
Statistical analysis of the results using Student’s t-test (t=, df=, p
By using T-test (t=, df=, p
Summary
Optimal age of woman for pregnancy and delivery is between and. Pregnancies of women older than are considered at risk ( ). e number of deliveries has decreased whereas the number of older pregnant women has progressively increased over the past decade in the world ( ). E most common obstetric complications among older women are gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, placenta praevia, premature rupture of membranes, vaginal bleeding after the th gestational week due to pregnancy-induced hypertension, miscarriage risk and preterm delivery and placental abruption ( , , , , ). Current findings on the impact of mature maternal age on foetus refer to foetal chromosomal defects, frequency of preterm newborns, low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation and development of foetus, and early neonatal complications ( , , ). Due to the great importance given in the world to the impact of advanced maternal age on the course and outcome of pregnancy and the lack of mentioned parameters, the quantitative study was undertaken to analyse the parts of placenta that have an effect on the volume of fetomaternal transfer of substances. In our research we assess the volume, surface density and the total volume and total capillary surface area in terminal villi of placentae in older women and compare them to the young ones
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
