Relationship between maternal diseases and placental morphology among parturient’s in Port Harcourt, River State: A multi-centre study

Abstract

Background Maternal diseases that complicate pregnancies such as Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) or Gestational
Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) etc are markedly impressed on the placenta microscopically and macroscopically resulting in in
defective placental development and perinatal morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to study the gross anatomy of the
placenta and its relationship with maternal medical illnesses.
Methodology: This study was a multi-centre hospital-based prospective cross-sectional study of 250 parturient who had term
deliveries in Port Harcourt. The socio-demographic data and the medical history of the parturient were collected using a
proforma. The placenta was collected after delivery and examined, and the morphometric features were noted. Data analysis
was done with SPSS IBM version 23. Correlation and Regression analysis were employed in investigating the relationship
between maternal/neonatal characteristics and placental morphology. Statistical significance was at a p-level of less than 0.05.
Results: The mean age of the women ± SD = 30.44±4.1years and the median parity was para-2. Gestational Hypertension was
the most common medical condition among participants. There was a statistically significant association between the maternal
medical conditions and the placental shape with a preponderance of the oval shape among the women with hypertensive
disorders. There was also, a statistically significant association between maternal medical conditions in pregnancy and other
placental measurements such as weight, number of cotyledons, diameter, thickness, and cord insertion.
Conclusion: Maternal medical conditions in pregnancy was found to have significant macroscopic imprints on the placental
morphology and these can help in the diagnosis and management of medical illnesses that complicate pregnancies in our
environment. More research is needed to establish causation.